Beloved Hollywood icon Dick Van Dyke has disclosed the simple yet powerful philosophy he credits for his remarkable longevity, just weeks before celebrating his 100th birthday.
The Two Things to Avoid for a Long Life
In a candid new interview, the star of Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang revealed that consciously steering clear of anger and hate has been fundamental to his enduring health and vitality. The American actor, who turns 100 on 13 December, stated that maintaining a positive disposition is "one of the chief things that kept me going".
"I've always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a person's insides – and hate," Van Dyke told People magazine. He elaborated that while he has encountered people and situations he disapproved of, he never allowed himself to succumb to intense bitterness. "I never really was able to do a white heat kind of hate," he admitted, attributing his reaching 99 to this "brighter outlook".
The Role of Love and Legacy
Van Dyke also paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife, Arlene, who is 54, crediting her with playing a massive role in his wellbeing. In a health diary for The Times, he wrote: "Without question, our ongoing romance is the most important reason I have not withered away into a hermetic grouch." He charmingly added that his much younger wife "makes me feel somewhere between two-thirds and three-quarters my age, which is still saying a lot."
Despite his upbeat nature, the veteran entertainer confessed to feeling "diminished" both physically and socially, noting the profound loneliness of outliving his closest friends. "Every single one of my dearest lifelong friends is gone, which feels just as lonely as it sounds," he shared.
Nevertheless, his spirit remains undimmed. Van Dyke stays remarkably active, having recently released a new book titled 100 Rules For Living To 100. He describes the book as a collection of life lessons, noting, "Each rule springs from a story in my own life, which I believe has stuck itself in my memory for a good reason – because it had some broader emotional significance for me."
A Youthful Spirit and Enduring Legacy
Even as he approaches his centenary year, Van Dyke's energy is infectious. "I feel really good for 100. Sometimes I have more energy than others – but I never wake up in a bad mood. I feel like I'm about 13," he declared. His career, spanning over seven decades, is decorated with prestigious awards, including four Emmys, a Tony, and a Grammy.
When reflecting on his legacy, Van Dyke isn't focused on personal fame but on the lasting joy his work brings. "But it's the music, the music we leave behind," he mused. "For as long as children are proudly belting out their new word, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, or singing and skipping along to Chim Chim Cher-ee, the most important part of me will always be alive."
Summarising his extraordinary journey, the legendary performer simply stated he has lived "a wonderfully full and exciting life, that I can't complain".
