Angelina Jolie and Christine Quinn

By Kelly Clark / Connect

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  • Angelina Jolie and Christine Quinn overcame obstacles
  • BRCA1 gene, bulimia and alcoholism can be beaten
  • Each story shared makes it easier for others to get healthy

Angelina Jolie wrote an Op-ed for the New York Times

It’s called My Medical Choice. And she shares how she carries the BRCA1 gene.

In the article Angelina explains that she decided to have a preventative double mastectomy because this gene increases her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

In her op-ed, Angelina explains why she wanted to share her experience:

I choose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know that they have strong options.

NYC mayoral candidate Christine Quinn was also in the New York Times today.

The name of the article is: Council Speaker Recounts Her Struggles With Bulimia and Alcoholism.

As the Daily Mail reports:

Quinn said the reason she chose to disclose her personal struggles now was to let people know that they can overcome obstacles.

Angelina Jolie and Christine Quinn break barriers

Both Angelina Jolie and Christine Quinn have come forward to create awareness around serious issues that are often isolating. At the same time they bring hope to people in similar situations.

Angelina Jolie and Christine Quinn – and every person who shares their story – makes it easier for the next person to be more informed, reach out and get back in the driver’s seat of their lives.

As Angelina says at the end of her article:

Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.

This is a great approach to all the ups and downs we’re faced with. It also reminds me of Taoism.

We need to accept, work with and learn from problems

The yin and yang symbol that represents balance captures the Taoist philosophy. Benjamin Hoff explains this way of thinking in his books The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet. In these powerful books each character teaches a lesson of Taoism.

While Eeyore frets… and Piglet hesitates… and Rabbit calculates… and Owl pontificates… Pooh just is.

– Benjamin Hoff

In short, Taoism teaches us how to accept, work with and learn from whatever happens in everyday life, by keeping it simple and focusing on what we have power over.

Thank you Angelina Jolie and Christine Quinn!

You’re both breaking down barriers.

Is there someone you’re inspired by who has gone public with a personal story?

Let me know in the comments below!

xoKelly

 

 

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