Michael J. Fox

A moving account of resilience, hope, fear and mortality, and how these things resonate in our lives, by actor and advocate Michael J. Fox. The entire world knows Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, the teenage sidekick of Doc Brown in Back to the Future; as Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties; as Mike Flaherty in Spin City; and through numerous other movie roles and guest appearances on shows such as The Good Wife and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Diagnosed at age 29, Michael is equally engaged in Parkinson’s advocacy work, raising global awareness of the disease and helping find a cure through The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the world’s leading non-profit funder of PD science. His two previous bestselling memoirs, Lucky Man and Always Looking Up, dealt with how he came to terms with the illness, all the while exhibiting his iconic optimism. His new memoir reassesses this outlook, as events in the past decade presented additional challenges. In No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, Michael shares personal stories and observations about illness and health, aging, the strength of family and friends, and how our perceptions about time affect the way we approach mortality. Thoughtful and moving, but with Fox’s trademark sense of humor, his book provides a vehicle for reflection about our lives, our loves, and our losses. Running through the narrative is the drama of the medical madness Fox recently experienced, that included his daily negotiations with the Parkinson’s disease he’s had since 1991, and a spinal cord issue that necessitated immediate surgery. His challenge to learn how to walk again, only to suffer a devastating fall, nearly caused him to ditch his trademark optimism and “get out of the lemonade business altogether.” Does he make it all of the way back? Read the book.

An Optimist Considers Mortality

No Time Like the Future

“Rocks are solid, stubborn and immovable. That’s me. Tracy on the other hand, has learned to Lee the rock rolling” - Michael J. Fox

I loved this book so much! I learned a lot about Parkinson’s which was expected but there’s also a lot of pretty great general life advices. I love the relationships that MJF has with his family, friends and wife. There is a constant give and take when it comes to relationships and I admire how he handles those moments but also recognizes how his wife handles them too. It’s endearing. 

Fox finds humor in times of frustration and executes his journey with PD very openly and honestly. I read this as a fan of the actor and walked away with respect for him as a writer. I look forward to reading his other books.

Christa Bell

“Rocks are solid, stubborn and immovable. That’s me. Tracy on the other hand, has learned to Lee the rock rolling” - Michael J. Fox

I loved this book so much! I learned a lot about Parkinson’s which was expected but there’s also a lot of pretty great general life advices. I love the relationships that MJF has with his family, friends and wife. There is a constant give and take when it comes to relationships and I admire how he handles those moments but also recognizes how his wife handles them too. It’s endearing. 

Fox finds humor in times of frustration and executes his journey with PD very openly and honestly. I read this as a fan of the actor and walked away with respect for him as a writer. I look forward to reading his other books.

matej yangwao

** spoiler alert **
           Always stay prepared 💝

Whenever you face struggle in life, replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Learn to not self-deceit. Acknowledge status quo and bad things happen to learn see where good is.

This books reminds me about seeking hopium in everyday life which for some, might be helpful to live life fullest :)

Enjoy and eat well!

≥Being prepared for anything doesn’t necessarily mean only bad things will happen; it just means living a conscious and cautious life. Life is haphazard and sometimes harsh, even for the most prepared.

≥Life can be unpredictable and quite discomforting when we least expect it, but this randomness makes living exciting.

≥ It is essential to keep a positive outlook and be open to change because change can be a chance to grow and be better versions of ourselves.

≥It is advisable to keep an open mind and be ready to accept change in whichever form it comes in.

≥Another piece of advice is regular and honest introspection. Self-examination is critical in dealing with a crisis, especially those we did not plan for. When you have a healthy understanding of yourself, you get better informed on your strengths and weaknesses. With this knowledge, we become better equipped to handle the ups and downs, mainly the downs.

≥Being optimistic is a great way to keep on even when things aren’t going according to plan.

 ≥It is also essential to grow an appreciation for life as this will help build up your optimism. An optimistic mind is a great asset; it keeps one hopeful even in the face of obstacles or unfortunate events.

≥We do not get a lot of time to spend on the planet; each second that passes might be our last. We must make sure to make every moment memorable.

≥Often, we are more focused on making a better future for ourselves that we forget to enjoy the present.

≥Life can be unpredictable and will test you, but it can also be a great experience if you do it right. “To live life to the fullest” is a common phrase; we often associate it with a lavish lifestyle and expensive purchases with little work. But this isn't the case; to live life to the fullest is to explore every facet of life and experience the many joys that come with them.

≥The path to living a fulfilled life is to be open to exploration, regardless of the field.

≥We must always find a reason to live to the fullest, regardless of what obstacles we face.

≥Did you know? Small handwriting and loss of smell are early signs of Parkinson’s.

≥A change in handwriting, specifically handwriting that’s gotten smaller over time or crowded, is an early indicator of P.D. Another common early sign is the loss of smell of foods like bananas, dill pickles, and licorice.

≥While we might have to give up some of our luxuries and habits, the sacrifice is worth it if the result is surviving the condition with our lives intact.

≥Some situations might require that you quit your favorite meal or activity, which can be challenging and might make your life difficult.
≥If you are unwilling to adjust your life and practices, you risk relapse and a worse set of symptoms.

 
≥maintaining the regimen is more beneficial than it is a burden.

≥Optimism isn’t self-deceit. However, it isn’t abandoning reality and opting to exist in a false version of life either. To live as an optimist, one must honestly assess his life and acknowledge it is terrible and that there is, of course, some good. This honest appraisal is the core of optimism; without it, the individual will always be stuck in a false reality and might never know true happiness.

≥Challenge negative self-talk and replace all your pessimistic thoughts with more positive ones. How to begin? Commit to catching your flow of thoughts by noticing what you're thinking about. Then replace any negative thoughts with optimism.

No Time Like the Future An Optimist Considers Mortality

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