Mary Huston McLendon

McLendon, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 19 years ago, publishes Everybody has a Window and Aisle Seat: Choosing a Positive Approach to Parkinson’s Disease. McLendon’s book encourages readers to” laugh loud and often, shun pity, shed ‘downer’ friends, and always refuse to give up or play a passive role”. She credits the support of her family and friends for helping her maintain her attitude.

We all have a choice. We can either choose to take an aisle seat and its limited view, withdraw and only look inward at ourselves and thus have a ‘Why me?’ attitude, or we can choose the window seat, focus outward at the opportunities and say ‘Why not me?’