Michael Jacoby ‘In Motion’
Hometown
Toronto, Ontario
What’s your Story?
Michael was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 25 but lived almost six months prior as a type 2 following a misdiagnosis. Having graduated with a degree in Political Science, this revelation provided him with a more personalized connection to an issue that would allow him to share his grassroots energy and desire to make a meaningful difference in the world. Michael is currently working with the Canadian Diabetes Association in addition to being a part-time student at Ryerson University in the Nonprofit and Volunteer Management Certificate Program. On top of this, he still enjoys finding time to coach baseball, volunteer in the upcoming Toronto municipal election, and provide special project support to a start-up organization, Tennis in the City. He loves anything and everything that has to do with food, especially cooking, and still makes the trip to Kensington Market every weekend to grocery shop. His new downtown digs seamlessly cater to his eclectic tastes.
In no particular order the coolest things that Michael has done since being diagnosed are 1) having the honour of being the “Best Man” at his dad’s wedding 2) appearing in the Toronto Star and speaking at the CN Tower on World Diabetes Day as a Youth Advocate for the CDA 3) participating in the first annual Winter Slipstream and learning to love camp.
What keeps you ‘In Motion’?
Michael is a true athlete of all seasons at both the recreational and All-Star levels, although those moments seem more akin to days gone by. An avid hockey player still dreaming of taking that “one” celebrated shift in the big leagues. Name the venue: baseball, tennis, golf or rugby and he will meet you there.
Words of ‘Betes Wisdom.
There are so many and still collecting…
Despite the adversity, diabetes reawakened my senses and made me re-examine what it means to live life passionately and to embrace the unpredictable flow of each day with a sense of joy and happiness.
A universal thought that he has carried since high school:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.’ We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? … Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you… And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson
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