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Olivia Newton-John Shares Her Secrets For Finding Joy Through Her Battle With Breast Cancer

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Four-time Grammy Award–winning singer and actress Olivia Newton-John, 72, is world-renowned for her powerful voice, both musically and as a source of hope. After battling breast cancer for decades, Olivia has harnessed her strength, candor, and humor to help millions of people thrive while fighting the disease. Here, her secrets to feeling healthy and finding joy through it all!

Look for the grace all around you.

“I see graciousness everywhere,” Olivia says. “Last year, at an event to raise money for my foundation, I auctioned off my Grease outfit — and it sold for over $200,000! This gentleman bought my jacket, gave the money to my foundation, and then gave the jacket back to me. It was an unbelievably kind thing to do, but I’ve found that if you look, those moments of grace are all around, just waiting for you.”

Nourish your body.

“I’ve recently become vegan, and it is surprisingly delicious!” Olivia shares. “Breakfast can be oatmeal with walnuts, oat milk, and a splash of maple syrup, or gluten-free toast with peanut butter. I save my big meal of the day for evening, which is our family meal. Last night, I cooked gluten-free pasta with a sauce I made with onions, broccoli, mushrooms, chili flakes, and a vegan bouillon cube. The best part is that I feel really great eating this way!”

Have a good laugh and a healing cry.

“Seeing the funny side of something, even if it’s really bad, helps me manage stress,” Olivia says. “My husband, John, and my animals make me laugh every day. It’s a wonderful release. On the other end of the spectrum is a good cry — crying is another way to release endorphins, ease stress, and help us find peace in the hard times.”

Stay connected with close friends.

“Friendships are so important to me,” Olivia says. “I keep in touch with my friends regularly, and just talking to them is such a stress-reliever!” Throughout 2020, Olivia tried to rekindle relationships with old friends. “Those relationships are really a nice part of my life now. Caring for people is wonderful, and sharing that love is priceless.”

Embrace whatever comes next.

“For the past 14 years, I’ve been traveling nonstop, so being home in 2020 was a change for me,” Olivia says. “I’ve really treasured the time being in one place and have been trying new things like painting. I’ve been painting some oil murals and doing doodles on rocks, which I’ve put up for auction. I’m no artist, but I like the peace and quiet of just living life and figuring out what’s next now that I have time.”

Let time in nature nourish your soul.

“I’m always happiest outdoors,” Olivia reveals. “I love birds, animals, flowers — they bring me peace and ground me. I’m grateful for everything growing out of the ground. I think gratitude and keeping a positive outlook is a mindset, and nature helps put me there. We can’t expect to be happy all the time, but I think finding joy is a decision one makes every day.”

A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.

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