Betty White Shares Her Secrets for a Long and Happy Life
One of my favorite things to watch when I was home sick from school was ‘Golden Girls.’ To this day, if I see that it’s on television I can’t help but stop to watch.
The iconic foursome came into our homes and won our hearts each week and charmed us with their unique personalities. It taught a generation what it really meant to have lasting friends.
Betty White, who played Rose on the show, has had a long and successful career in Hollywood spanning more than seven decades. Although she is most recently known for TV comedies “Hot in Cleveland” and “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers,” White got her start in radio and broke into TV with a co-hosting spot on “Hollywood on Television.”
A charismatic hit, she went on to host her own award-winning talk show, “The Betty White Show.” A trailblazer before it was popular, White started her own production company in 1952, which produced the show “Life with Elizabeth.”
Along the way, White has appeared on classics such as “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and committed 19 years to the annual Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, California. Over the years, she’s known to have worked with everyone — except her long-standing Hollywood crush, Robert Redford.
While many successful names can tout that they’ve worked with “everyone,” few can do so and maintain such a stellar reputation. White has a radiating smile that reaches her vibrant blue eyes and an affinity for finding the positive side of everything.
On Jan. 17, White will celebrate her birthday. She recently sat down with Parade magazine to reflect on the secrets to a long and happy life.
“I try to see the funny side and the upside, not the downside,” White explained. “It sounds so trite, but a lot of people will pick out something to complain about, rather than say, ‘Hey, that was great!’ it’s not hard to find great stuff if you look.”
It’s so easy to get caught up in what isn’t going as planned. White, however, suggests the secret to long life is to enjoy it.
Secondarily, and in line with her “enjoy it” approach, White doesn’t get caught up in the latest dietary crazes.
While most of us are trying to adhere to our New Year’s Resolutions to eat better and exercise more, White proudly lists vodka and hot dogs as her favorites.
White’s career has afforded her many accolades. “I got an award for everything,” she recalled. “Inhaling, exhaling… I’ve been so spoiled rotten.”
Unhampered by age, White now spends her time as a YouTube creator. “Betty’s Happy Hour” posts quick sketch-style videos that are a riot.
Yet even though White has had a long-standing public crush on Hollywood’s Robert Redford, the two have never met. She wishes for him every year, “but it never works.”
What do you get the woman who has everything? A meeting with her celebrity crush! Perhaps the power of social media can make this year’s wish come true.
Happy Birthday, Betty White! I hope you get to meet your Hollywood prince.
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