April 21st

4/21/2013

How do you view life? Is everything around you a constant trial? Or do you see each challenge as a new adventure?

I watched BBC's program about the life of Michael Crawford last night. He looks at life through a happiness telescope, rather like his well-loved character in the comedy series Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. See the story in Michael's own words here.

Michael Crawford, star of West End blockbusters Barnum, The Woman In White, and The Phantom Of The Opera is back on stage for the first time in seven years. He’s playing The Wizard of Oz in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s lavish new production at the London Palladium.

What's amazing is that for the past seven years he has been battling the debilitating illness myalgic encephalopathy, or ME. After losing his strength, he was diagnosed with ME, the rare chronic fatigue syndrome that can be triggered by a viral infection. Apparently, a rubber suit he designed for himself to become the fat Count Fosco in The Woman In White caused the condition. After months of hard work and unbearable heat, what he thought was flue turned into meltdown. Dangerously dehydrated, the water he drank didn't contain enough nutrients to sustain health.

He moved to New Zealand, changed his diet, exercise and routine, and after four years, decided he wanted to work again. After Andrew Lloyd Webber contacted him about a new role, Michael accepted the part and has given his magical character new vitality in The Wizard of Oz.

Could you imagine how life would look through a cherished child's eyes? Everything would fill you with wonder. You'd have time to play and dream. Life would beckon you on to learn and explore. Everything could be fixed and transformed. What's stopping you?

10 Comments

Kama link

04/21/2013 1:31am

As an adult I have always seen the world as if through a child's eyes. I teach others to do the same as I believe it is the secret to awakening our awareness for the world around us. I also watched a lot of "Some Mothers do 'ave 'em as a child" maybe that helped :)

Francene Stanley link

04/21/2013 1:49am

How wise of you, Kama, to view life in a simple way. I'm so glad you watched that show. We saw a repeat of one episode last night and found it just as funny.

Ava Reyerson link

04/21/2013 2:18am

I struggle with staying adult enough sometimes! Not that I'm childlike in my mannerisms, more like I'd like to do what I used to do as a kid...potter around moving from one fun thing to another, quietly observing the world and the people around me. I love nothing more than this...but life's responsibilities keep me deeply entrenched in day to day tasks. I must make a concerted effort to be adult-like and do of course. But that little kid who just wants to potter around life waits, impatiently sometimes, for me to take her out to a cafe...

Francene Stanley link

04/21/2013 3:15am

I know what you mean--we have to ballance our sense of wonder with our responsibilities. Let's go and have fun. I'd love a cup of coffee too.

Jana link

04/21/2013 2:52am

i like the happiness-telescope reference :) it is so important not to lose a childlike sense of wonder about the world at least in some ways, the world has enough challenges, and we have a choice as to how we tackle them !

Francene Stanley link

04/21/2013 3:17am

The sun's shining outside. I want to go and play in the garden, discover new insects and listen to the birds. But I need to do a few things first. hehe.

Alana link

04/21/2013 1:45pm

This is a hard one to comment on. I love to recapture the sense of wonder a child has; the feeling like every day is a brand new day waiting to be discovered. But sometimes childhood can be far from idyllic. I had a sick mother and a beloved aunt who spent a lot of enjoyable time with me, but then suddenly seemed to reject me with behavior that was unexplainable (years later I found out the aunt had a serious mental illness). I try to take the good memories and know the not so good ones are there, but are of no value to me.

Francene Stanley link

04/22/2013 1:18am

You're right. Every child doesn't have good memories, but they all start out with a view of innocence. Unfortunately, life's lessons are harsh for some.

Rebecca link

04/21/2013 6:49pm

The world is wondrous place through the eyes of a child indeed. Whenever I get stressed out I go for a nature outing with my kids and especially look at life through my 2 yr olds eyes, its breathtaking and calming X
Having recently recovered from a virus that caused an immune disease I totally appreciate what he went through XX

Francene Stanley link

04/22/2013 1:20am

How wonderful that you have the opportunity to walk with your children and relax that way. A virus can be very debilitating. I remember having the Asian Flue in the 70's. The effects lasted two years.

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Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

April 21st

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