Esquire magazine runs an article entitled “What I’ve Learned”. Last year Michael J. Fox was interviewed on this topic, and I found his following comment very interesting: “I can’t always control my body the way I want to, and I can’t control when I feel good or when I don’t. I can control how clear my mind is. And I can control how willing I am to step up if somebody needs me.”
George Vitolkas, a Greek classical homeopath, who is most responsible for the resurgence of homeopathy in Europe and North America in the latter 20th Century, commented on this very topic. He felt that one is far better off having to suffer from a physical illness than an emotional illness. As with Michael J. Fox, who suffers from a physical illness- Parkinson’s disease, one is still able to have hopes and dreams, and is capable to act on their aspirations to help others and themselves grow. Whereas, those who suffer from emotional illnesses such as depression or anxiety disorders are truly limited by their illnesses in what they can achieve in this life.
So for those of us who suffer from chronic physical diseases we need to appreciate what freedoms we do have.
Terry Pfau DO, HMD