An imprint of Penguin Random House llc penguinrandomhouse com

CONCLUSION
MAKE YOUR PLAN
Start now
hen I began writing this book, I took a trip to New York City. I
had lunch with my book editor and attended a CoverGirl
launch event, and I recorded a podcast with the editor in chief of
Allure magazine. Julia was there, too, choosing clothes for me.
I was staying at a very beautiful hotel. I had just gotten off the
phone with Tosca, who was on set doing a movie. I was texting
Kimbal, who was opening a restaurant that week, and I was sitting in
the lobby, watching Elon’s SpaceX launch on my iPad with pride—
and I had a memory of being in that hotel before. I was in my early
fifties and living in New York City. My dietetics practice was just
starting.
I remembered coming to New York to do a fashion shoot, right
there in that hotel. Nothing in the hotel looked any different,
although I suppose I looked different. My situation was different.
After the shoot, everybody went to have a drink in the bar at the
restaurant. I wanted to join them, but I didn’t stay, because I
couldn’t afford to pay for my own drink. Perhaps someone would
have paid for me. But what if they hadn’t? So I left. If you can’t afford
it, you don’t do it. I didn’t feel deprived or sorry for myself. I never
said, “One day I’ll be back!” I certainly didn’t imagine that if I ever
did come back, this is what it would look like.
I just kept working hard, making a new plan, and moving forward.
Maybe that’s why I wake up each day feeling optimistic. I’ve lived
with plenty and I’ve lived with nothing, and I’ve seen that you never
know what will come next. I am in good health, enjoy my work, love
my family, and have great friends.

---

• • •
In health, in business, in life, there is no quick fix. All you have is
hard work, optimism, and honesty; common sense and a plan.
You can make a plan, but it doesn’t always work out. So then you
have to make another plan. Your life will be full of ups and downs,
like a roller coaster. The ups will be great; the downs will be hell. And
when you’re down, you need to plan how to climb out. As you age,

---

the downs are less tragic, less painful, and less hurtful, because
you’ve been through them before.
You have to decide for yourself when you want to be happy. When
is that? Why delay changing your career, improving your health,
having a happy family and friends, loving your life? At times, I never
thought I would be happy. Ever! And then I made a plan to get out
because continued unhappiness is not a way to live. So make your
plan now.

---