This is how I came up with it: One of my heroes is actor Michael J. Fox (Back to the Future, Family Ties, Boston Legal, Doc Hollywood, etc.), who has been battling his Parkinson's Disease, which continues to worsen and debilitate him more and more each year. In 2009 Michael authored a book called Always Looking Up, which is a memoir of his previous decade. Despite his disease, Michael remains optimistic about his future. He has also formed the Michael J. Fox Foundation to help find the cause, treatments, and the cure of this awful disease. Here is Michael:
Here is a quote from Michael's book: "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. So, sure, it may be one step forward and two steps back, but after a time with Parkinson's I've learned that what is important is making that one step count; always looking up."
On that note, the prompt for this week is: Always Looking Up! (I figure if Michael J. Fox can look up, so can we all.) What comes to mind when you hear those words? If you disagree with them, feel free to write an opposite viewpoint. I look forward to seeing what you all come up with.
(Posted by Mary, who blogs at In the Corner of My Eye, and loves Poetry Jam)
NanU's note: if you have signed up to cook the Jam but are not yet an author to this blog, please send me your email address (not a website, not blogger.noreply) so I can set that up for you.
nice...this should be a fun and uplifting one...
ReplyDeleteI like it too~
ReplyDeleteGonna give it a whirl!
ReplyDeleteThis was a good one--more directions than one first thinks. And then I realized how the literal looking up can also be very metaphorical.
ReplyDeleteYeah...(clap, clap) I'm doing the happy dance. Just kidding, but I am smiling. = )
ReplyDeleteHere's to upwards! Or even "Up Words" if they lift the spirits?
ReplyDeleteMary, as you know, this is a favorite topic of mine, irritatingly optimistic as I am:) Posted my Always Looking Up poem........I adore Michael J. Fox, I so love his spirit.
ReplyDeletePrompt fit the very first post of my blog. And its inspiration. I too am a fan of Michael's courage and relentless optimism.
ReplyDeleteNice to see so many people's responses to the topic. Karen, I hope you will return and post a link to your poem. Your link only went to Blogger. No way to find you.
ReplyDeletere: "NanU's note: if you have signed up to cook the Jam but are not yet an author to this blog, please send me your email address (not a website, not blogger.noreply) so I can set that up for you."
ReplyDeletei am scheduled to do the prompt for the Sept. 19th poetry jam ~ i cannot find an email address to send mine to you. i have not been added as an author to this blog yet. my email address is haikulovesongs {at} gmail{dot}com ~ thank you. dani
i really respect and admire Michael J. Fox and his family and their bravery in making his struggle with Parkinson's Disease public, raising awareness and money for research.
ReplyDeletei hope no one takes my post as a comment to or about Michael J. Fox. it's just a poem in 160 characters. {smile}
Once again, a challenging prompt. I love the results to it, though and think everyone is doing a great job of rising to the occasion.
ReplyDeleteThe prompt took me in a direction I didn't anticipate and it's not really what I would have thought based the very positive quote from MJF.
I'm still having a lot of trouble getting poems to transfer into wordpress without losing my formatting. Sigh...
Thanks for a noble thing to ponder this week, Mary. twinkly
Oops. A few little typos in my comment up there, but I hope my meaning comes through. Basically, I thought everyone had great poems in line with the MJF quote. Ciao 'til next time!
ReplyDeletei like this. will let you know if i can come up with something. happy to find a poetry sharing space :)
ReplyDeleteSorry about mine-feeling cranky! A dear friend is in the hospital battling AIDS and there's nothing I can do.
ReplyDeleteTruly admire the man, and the attitude.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say THANK YOU, Evelyn, for your kind comments at my Night Blooms story blog!
ReplyDeleteWell, I've tried twice to connect via Mr. Kinky, but I think he doesn't like my poem very much. The first link won't work, and the second takes you to the sign in page. Could someone please remove that link at number 19?
ReplyDeleteThanks. I am, by the way, at Keeping Secrets. Looking up!
Ha! He IS being kinky with me!
ReplyDeleteDani - I had an address for you, d.147 at yahoo or somesuch, and if you received messages from blogger there, that was the author invite. I'll send one now to the address noted above. Note that the invitation doesn't come from "me" but from blogger or blogspot or whathaveyou.
ReplyDeletePoetry Jam?
ReplyDeleteI actually prefer Jam Poetry - nothing like rhyming preserves.