Michael J. Fox Skates Circles Around Us All
Eighteen years after his Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis, Michael J. Fox continues to be a role model. He appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show this week to speak about his new book Always Looking Up, and talked candidly about his disease, which he equates to a 4-year-old child climbing around, pulling on his arms and legs.
“I’m a dad, I’m a husband, I’m an activist, I’m a writer and I’m just a student of the world. This is one fact of my life, but it’s not the totality of my life. It doesn’t define me.”
Although Parkinson’s has made his daily routines challenging, Michael surprised Oprah and Dr. Mehmet Oz by arranging a meeting at a Central Park skating rink- and skating circles around everyone. Dr. Oz explained that a fluid activity like skating requires less stops and starts from the brain and actually comes easier to Parkinson’s patients than walking.
Check out Michael’s skating video here.
Michael’s support for stem cell research continues to provide hope that we’ll see a cure for Parkinson’s. His activism and optimism have already set an example for many.
“Now, I didn’t have a choice about this, but I have a million other choices I can make today. I can choose where I go. I can choose how I feel about where I go… If I make those choices well, I’m going to be a happy person.”
Jolene Hart is a freelance writer and natural beauty expert with a passion for mind, body and planet - just like Healthy Hollywood!
A former beauty writer for InStyle magazine, Self magazine, and People magazine, she has covered every aspect of the beauty industry from product breakthroughs to red carpet beauty to backstage trends at fashion week. Find more of her work at 
