Legendary icon, Dick Van Dyke, turns 100
This past Saturday, the celebrated actor, song-and-dance man, Dick Van Dyke turned 100, and instead of living in an assisted living facility, he’s still living at home with his wife, dancing, singing, cracking jokes, working every day to smile and laugh, all of which he attributes to his longevity.
He’s also known to visit the poor parts of LA and hand out money and jackets to those in need, saying that the things that give life meaning come from “the nurturing of values like tolerance, charity, and community.”
He has at least a few ties to Texas, having been stationed at an Air Force base near Sherman during WWII, but never made it to the RGV, as far as anyone can tell.
His New Book
In his new book, available at book stores everywhere, titled, “100 Rules for Living to 100,” Van Dyke attributes his longevity to a blend of genetics, consistent physical activity (dancing, gym, yoga), eliminating smoking and heavy drinking, staying playful and optimistic, maintaining strong social connections (especially with his wife, Arlene), and keeping an open mind to new ideas, all while doing things he loves like singing and performing.
He emphasizes that his wife helps him stay young and active, preventing him from becoming a “grouch.”
An alcoholic, or at least a heavy abuser of alcohol, until the age of 46, Van Dyke decided he no longer wanted to live in a mental fog, so to speak, so he checked himself into a hospital in 1972 for three weeks to help combat his addiction.
He has since stated that giving up booze and cigarettes is a major reason he made it to 100.
You can read all his secrets for longevity in his book, but in a nutshell, here are the major “secrets,” if you will, to making it to the grand old age of 100: # Physical Activity: Dancing, regular gym workouts, yoga, and stretching.
# Avoiding Vices: Quitting smoking and heavy drinking were major factors.
# Playfulness & Joy: Tapping into his inner child and maintaining a sense of fun.
# Strong Relationships: His wife, Arlene, keeps him feeling young and engaged, and he actively connects with family.
# Curiosity & Openness: Staying open to new ideas and experiences, like using new pronouns, keeps his mind sharp.
# Purpose: Doing what he loves (performing, singing) nourishes his spirit.
# Optimism: A positive outlook helps manage stress and promotes well-being “I’ve made it to 100, in no small part, because I have stubbornly refused to give in to the bad stuff in life,” he wrote on Instagram, and “Sometimes I feel like I’m 15 again.”
With regard to experiencing joy even as he hit the century mark this past Saturday, Dick Van Dyke wrote this on his social media account: “No one is genetically miserable... we all have the capacity for a joyful life.”
And so it goes.
May he live at least another 10 years.