Inspirational Reading
The last two books that I read were wonderful, heartfelt and inspirational. Here are some tidbits to encourage you to pick them up:
Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist is the second autobiography by Michael J. Fox. In this instalment, Fox talks about living with Parkinson’s, and explains how he has managed to remain happy, fulfilled and optimistic despite his illness.
The book is divided into four sections, Work, Politics, Faith and Family. Fox highlights these as the fundamental sources of strength in his life, and in each section, he discusses how Parkinson’s has altered and sometimes enhanced his relationship to these important ideals.
As someone looking to move forward through chronic illness with a positive attitude, I found this book inspirational and heartfelt. At the same time, it managed to maintain an honesty about the reality of his situation – Fox does not ignore his illness.
One of my favourite moments in the book comes in the prologue, when Fox says, “For everything this disease has taken, something with greater value has been given – sometimes just a marker that points me in a new direction that I might not otherwise have traveled.” What delights me about this statement is that I finally feel the same way about my own illness. The book is well written, funny and moving – definitely worth reading.
Me to We: Finding Meaning in a Material World is the latest book by social activists and brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger. You may know Craig as the founder of Free the Children, the largest network of children helping children (a group he founded when he was just twelve years old). Together, he and his brother Marc have also founded Leaders Today, which works to promote youth leadership. The list of their achievements is considerable, and stretches across the entire globe.
In this book, they discuss the philosophy of living Me to We, and outline steps that one can take to facilitate this changing perspective in your own life. It is filled with inspirational stories of single people sparking significant positive change, as well as memories from the brothers’ own travels across the world. Author contributions included consider Dr. Jane Goodall, Kim Phuc, Her Majesty Queen Noor, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Oprah Winfrey.
With straightforward and personable writing, Craig and Marc explain the necessity for a global community, and provide numerous ideas for creating positive change in your own life and the lives of those around you. This book is wonderful, and has left me informed and inspired.
One of my favourite quotes chosen to be a part of this book is from Ralph Waldo Emerson, “It is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”
Check out the conversations and actions inspired by this book at www.metowe.org
