One of the most beautiful elements of Van Dyke’s later years is the presence of his wife, Arlene. He writes about her with adoration, gratitude, and almost childlike joy. Their marriage is not defined by age difference, but by companionship. By laughter. By being able to look at each other each morning and choose partnership all over again.

Arlene keeps him grounded. She encourages him to stay active, eat well, move his body, and stay engaged. She challenges him emotionally and keeps his mind sharp. She reminds him that even at nearly 100, life still has the capacity to surprise you, bless you, and delight you.

Van Dyke describes her as “oxygen to my spirit” — the grounding force that keeps him connected to the beauty of the everyday world. Their partnership proves that love is not limited by age. In fact, love may grow even stronger when two people understand how precious time truly is.

A Century of Show Business — and a Lifetime of Gratitude

Dick Van Dyke has survived:

• the golden age of television,

• the changing nature of Hollywood,

• the pressures of fame,

• personal losses,

• health challenges,

• and more years than anyone ever expected.

Yet he remains grateful.

He speaks often about how fortunate he has been:

• to make people laugh,

• to bring families together,

• to be welcomed in living rooms across the world,

• to inspire future performers,

• and to experience love more than once.

He does not see his 100th birthday as a finish line, but as a continuation of a life he has never taken for granted.

He is aware of the fragility of these final years, but he approaches them with dignity, humor, and acceptance.

His Message to the World: “Choose Joy”

As he approaches a century of life, Van Dyke’s ultimate message is profoundly simple:

Choose joy.
Even when the world feels heavy.
Especially then.

He insists that joy is not denial.
Joy is courage.
Joy is resilience.
Joy is the act of continuing to find meaning even when circumstances make it difficult.

He believes that happiness is an active practice — one that requires intention, openness, and gratitude. And after everything he has endured — losses, heartbreak, aging, uncertainty, global turmoil — he still wakes up every morning hopeful.

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No Curtain Call — Just a Gentle, Loving Encore

There is something deeply moving about the way Dick Van Dyke speaks about life today. He is not ready to say goodbye.
But he is ready to accept the slower, softer chapter he now inhabits.

He knows his time is precious.
He knows the applause of life eventually fades.
But he also knows that the memories, the laughter, the love, and the impact he’s made will echo long after he is gone.

His life is not ending with fireworks — but with the quiet glow of a man who has lived well, loved deeply, and inspired millions.

A Final Birthday Tribute

As people around the world prepare to celebrate his 100th birthday, one thing is certain: Dick Van Dyke remains a rare, extraordinary example of how to live — with humor, with hope, with love, and with the unwavering belief that joy is always worth fighting for. His century is not a farewell. It is a love letter to life.