There's always failure. And there's always disappointment. And there's always loss. But the secret is learning from the loss, and realizing that none of those holes are vacuums.
Interpretation
Failure and disappointment are inevitable in life, but we can learn from them to grow.
In this quote, Michael J. Fox acknowledges that experiencing failure, disappointment, and loss is a universal part of life. Rather than viewing these negative experiences as voids that consume us, Fox encourages us to learn from our setbacks and understand that they can lead to personal growth and resilience. The idea is that these 'holes' in our lives are filled with lessons and opportunities for development, allowing us to move forward with greater wisdom.
In practice
During a motivational speech to inspire students after a series of setbacks.
I find as long as I acknowledge the truth of something, then that's it. I know what it is and then I can operate. But if I overestimate the downside of something or the challenge of something and I get too obsessed about the difficulty of it, then I don't leave enough room to be open to the upside, the possibility.
My whole life, meeting people is like a blind date, because I feel like they've already seen the video on me.
There are no moments you have frozen in amber. It's moving, it's changing, so appreciate what's good about right now and be ready for what's next.
Certainly people have a lot tougher situations than I've had to deal with. But I will say we are all dying from the moment we are born. This is not just rehearsal.
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.
The laughs mean more to me than the adoration. If two girls walk up to me and one says 'you're cute', I'll say 'thank you', but I appreciate it much more when the other one says 'you make me laugh so much'.
Nothing can be further apart than true humility and servility.
I sometimes feel that if your book sells more than 20 years, then there's something in it that you can say, gee, I did something that endures, that's timeless
Just when we most need to be clearheaded, in order to face the hard facts before us, there is all too frequently a very real inclination to give way to dangerous tendencies merely as an escape from realities.
I heard stories from my mother's mother who was an American Indian. She was spiritual, although she did not go to church, but she had the hum. She used to tell me stories of the rivers.
When an uninstructed multitude attempts to see with its eyes, it is exceedingly apt to be deceived.
Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character.
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