The Parkinson Paradox

The Gift that Takes and Gives

Subject: Parkinson, Adversity, Success, Mental Toughness

By Victor Antonio

I’m a big fan of old black and white movies.  My favorite all-time is the The Scarlet Pimpernel (1935) with Lesley Howard.  Growing up all I did was watch movies; the older the better.  My favorite silent film is Metropolis (1927) by Fritz Lang.  There’s something about a scratchy, tearing black and white silent film that really draws me. 

So why am I telling you this?  Oh…just wait, I’m getting to the point!

This past Sunday I was watching “Inside the Actor’s Studio” with James Lipton on the Bravo cable channel.  If you’ve never seen this show you’re missing out.  Every so often James Lipton brings an artist into the ‘studio’ (an interview in front of a live audience who happens to be the student body at Pace University) and interviews them.

Here’s an excerpt from their website (www.BravoTv.com):

“For more than eleven years, James Lipton has sat down with more than 180 of the world’s most accomplished artists – ranging from actors and directors to musicians and comedians - for penetrating, fascinating interviews. Lipton’s studious research and enlightened curiosity has inspired his guests to open up and confess their deepest thoughts about their craft.   A partial list of notable featured guests includes Paul Neuman, Sally Field, Dennis Hopper, Jessica Lange, Christopher Walken, Nathan Lane, Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, Sir Anthony Hopkins, …and Al Pacino to name a few.”

What does this have to do with success you might be wondering?   I’m getting there…just wait a minute!

This time around I watched Mr. Lipton welcome Michael J. Fox to the studio.  You remember Fox from the television series Family Ties or from some his movies, especially when he played Marty McFly in Back to the Future. 

As always Lipton had done his homework and was asking some very insightful and thoughtful question.  Then Lipton move into a line of questioning that initially made me uncomfortable, but yet, it was unavoidable. 

In 1998, while working on the television series Spin City, Fox publicly disclosed that he had been diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease seven years earlier.  Parkinson is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that affects the control of muscles, and so may affect movement, speech and posture.

Lipton then asked him how he handles his condition as it became quite apparent that Fox struggled to formulate his thoughts and control his movements.  Fox responded with something that literally stunned me and has shifted my paradigm of adversity.   And THIS is what I want to share with you. 

I’ll paraphrase what he said:

“When I’m asked that question I often joke that it’s the gift that keeps on “taking”.  And people say how can that (taking from you) be a gift?  I tell them that with every loss (i.e., movement, control, ability to do ‘normal’ things) it makes me aware of how much I had.”

How poignant!  Stop and think about that for a moment.  Here is a disease that takes from you and with every loss movement or control Fox becomes keenly aware of how much he had to begin with.  This is what I will from this day forward refer to as the Parkinson Paradox; a disease that robs you of your abilities, but gives you the insight to clearly see how much you had in the first place.  I liken it to when you’re sick.  You don’t appreciate your health until you no longer have it.

Many of us constantly complain about what we don’t have.  We whine about our perceived limited abilities.  We don’t have the (Parkinson) perspective to realize how much we do have.  

Remember the saying, it’s not what you do with what you don’t have, it’s what you do with what you do have that will make you a success.  Michael J. Fox would agree with me on this one.  His Parkinson’s foundation www.MichaelJFox.org  (founded in 2000) is proof of that.  To date his foundation has raised almost $70M to help fund research projects to battle this disease.

It’s worth repeating, it’s not what you do with what you don’t have, it’s what you do with what you do have that defines you. 

Fox's best season in the limelight may quite literally be the role he now plays as an ambassador of hope and a great role model for facing adversity head-on.

Victor Antonio

p.s., If you're still convinced that your life stinks and no one has your worries, try reading my article, "It Ain't That Bad".

Please share this article with a friend who may need a word of inspiration.

Copyright © 2006 by Victor Antonio   All rights reserved.  This article MAY be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, as long as the author’s name, website and email address are included as part of the article’s body.  All inquiries, including information on electronic licensing, should be directed to Victor Antonio.