Joan Lunden’s Tips For A Good Life and How To Be Happy At Any Age

TV veteran Joan Lunden spent nearly 20 years cohosting ABC’s Good Morning America before becoming a public speaker … and a grandmother.

Today at 74 years old, Joan says she finds her happiness by not acting her age. Here are her five steps for finding late-life joy.

Plan To Be Happy

“Have a bucket list or a happiness plan. Mine includes taking a photojournalism trip through the Serengeti, reading more books and enjoying health and nutrition classes. What passion projects would you like to pursue? Figure it out and put it in your plan.”

Aspire To Inspire

“When I got diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, my first instinct was to hide. My inspiration to go public came from my father, a cancer surgeon. He died in a plane crash when I was just 13 years old, and this was my opportunity to carry on his legacy, to inspire and educate others through my own battle. Women tell me that I ‘took the scary out of it.’ That makes it all worth it.”

Let Stress Go

“It can wear you down, not just physically and mentally but spiritually too. To deal with our stresses, we must first identify them. The things I worry about these days: Will my cancer come back? Have I planned wisely for my future? My biggest no-stress strategy is to know my priorities and stick to them. It’s important to learn that ‘no’ is not a dirty word. You simply cannot be everything to everyone.”

Pick Your Peak

“At 45, I signed on for a mountaineering trip to climb the Teton Range. When our group stood on the mountain, our guide gestured at the peaks all around us. ‘Pick your peak,’ he said, and that’s exactly what we did. We didn’t need to summit the highest peak. From that day forward, I’ve used that lesson whenever I’m making tough decisions. Pick your peak and go for it!”

Be Grateful

“My cancer battle opened my eyes to just how much my family and friends loved and supported me. I’ve embarked on a visual reconstruction of my life using family albums, keepsakes and memorabilia from my career. Revisiting memories and milestones gives us a chance to reflect on our lives, to be grateful for what has come before and help us plan for what’s next. Want to know my new mantra? ‘Make today and tomorrow so awesome that you make yesterday jealous!’”