Michael J. Fox

So, I was scanning through iTunes today and stumbled on a few good finds. For some reason, I've gone to just ignoring everything that iTunes sends me, via email, regarding new things. Probably a habit I should start breaking if today is any indication.

First up, there are a whole bunch of short films in the Video section. I love the Pixar shorts and the Disney things, but the ones that really grabbed me where the regular international short films. There are about six of them up there and I downloaded on of the them today. I'm a big fan of foreign films, long or short. In fact, John and I went to the foreign film festival that's held here in the Twin Cities eight or so months back. Really good stuff and some very interesting perspectives on the world and cinema in general. Anyway, I checked out The Last Farm. And, although it's creepy in some of it's moments, it's a really good film and one that I'm glad I have.

I also discovered that one of my favorite shows, Inside the Actors Studio, is also available. Well, six episodes of it are anyway. The one I downloaded was the Michael J. Fox show and it was really inspirational. He's one of those nostalgic actors for me that really help define my early years. It was a very cool thing to hear about his perspective on having Parkinsons and dealing with it. He stated that he felt Parkinsons was a gift. He called it the gift that keeps on taking, but still a gift. That who he is as a person is changed due to dealing with the illness. And that the struggle has helped him appreciate what he as and what he's achieved. What a strong, healthy mindset to be in. I've felt the same way about Diabetes. Granted, not even close to being in the same category as Parkinsons, nevertheless, something to be dealt with. I've always thought that who I am as a person has been as much defined by the management of Diabetes as it has anything else. I don't think the Aaron Hilden sans Diabetes would be the same person I am today. I can safely say that I'd be less if I hadn't gone through the years of taking care of this body. That's not to say I wouldn't be willing and thrilled to lose the disease in a heartbeat if the opportunity presented itself.

So, to hear that same thought coming out of a guy like Michael J. Fox makes me happy to be alive. It makes me want to work harder and be more to those around me. It makes me want to really sit down and take stock in all that I have. I've had quite a few opportunities to do that lately, for which I'm grateful.

At any rate, I somehow think Michael Douglas wouldn't be as much of an inspiration.