Always Looking Up

I read Michael J Fox's new book, Always Looking Up, this morning. As the title gives allusion to, he is an optimistic feller. The title derives from his attitude and his height. He claims that along with his sister he was always fighting elbows and having to look up. His book is split into what Fox considers the four parts of his life: politics, work, family, ?. I can't remember the last one.
Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and the book chronicles how he felt the need to rebuild his life when he was pretty OK with the last one.
I'd like to develop an optimistic attitude prior to something like a major disease or tragic life circumstance happening to me. I have been told that happiness is an illusion so I imagine that this would also fall under that realm, but it's something that I'm working towards. Fox has been working towards researching Parkinsons since he was diagnosed. So much of what he talks about in the story is about how he keeps himself busy and necessary. I wonder if that is the key... finding something necessary.