The big lesson Linda Purl learned at 70 and how it can help anyone, at any age
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With a list of Hollywood acting credits spanning decades, Linda Purl has learned one crystal clear thing about life and success. This one principle is her leading edge too living an accomplished life, on-screen and off. And don’t worry, it doesn’t involve a beauty serum or a weird exercise program. It’s a simple beliefs that has guided her to a healthy, happy life.
Once the curtain rises and the stage lights are on, you have to be ready for action. She helps all of us look ahead to our lives at 70 by applying what she’s learned, as she discussed with Andrea Miller on the Getting Open podcast.
Purl’s been an actor on stage and the silver screen. Then she wanted to write a book, but no one was interested in publishing it, so purl asked, “If not now, when?” and published it herself on Amazon. This is symbolic of many aspects of her life, where she seized what she wanted.
A peek behind the Curtain: An Actress’ Life on the Road tells the tale of her six-month theater tour in the UK that dealt with pandemic dropouts and hurricanes, but the show must and did go on, especially when hilarity ensued across the English countryside while performing eight shows a week in over 20 venues. The story gives a rolling example of all the answers to her big question, “If not now, when?”
Actors and other performers know a lot about adapting to the changes in life. performers know well that it is not about preparing for “if” something goes wrong, it is preparing for “when” something goes wrong, because there will always be uncontrollable elements you can’t avoid, especially in live performances. So rolling with the “oopsies” is part of the performer’s skill set.
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‘Once the curtain goes up and the show has begun, that’s it’
Nobody lives forever!
Purl knows things will go wrong at some point, and adapting to it as though nothing happened makes a performer more than ready when it comes to aging. We have to carry each other, forgive each other, remember that some leaps forward are tiny and some are huge. We have to keep going since there really is no other reasonable choice.
‘It’s do or die together’
“You’re on your own, you and your playmates. It’s do or die together,” explains Purl of doing live stage performances. “You have to carry each other, forgive each other, and urge each other along. When you screw up, just keep going. No matter what.”
This is what has given her such a vibrant, long life.
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