Feisty Talks With Florence Henderson
Most any baby boomer woman can relate to Florence Henderson in one way or another. Whether it’s from growing up with Carol Brady as everyone’s idealized mom, or enjoying her wit and charm as a frequent guest on the Tonight Show With Johnny Carson and the Mike Douglas Show, or even just grabbing a bottle of Wesson Oil to fry up some chicken, this multi-talented woman comes to mind.
But Florence has much more to her richly layered resume than these formidable achievements. Her seemingly boundless energy was recently on display when she signed up for the 2010 season of Dancing With the Stars. She also hosts her own talk show on RLTV where she interviews celebrities and other Hollywood notables who left their indelible imprint on the popular culture. Carol Burnett, Frankie Avalon, Carl Reiner, and Garry Marshall are just a few of the legendary guests who’ve enjoyed their time sitting opposite the ever-gracious Florence.
There’s no question that Florence has been endowed with more than her share of personal gifts, yet what lies beneath all of that talent and drive? You might be surprised. In truth, this highly accomplished woman came from some very humble beginnings. The last child of ten—were it not for her older sister—she was left to her raise herself on her own, and do so under some pretty rough conditions.
Florence openly shared the hardships of her childhood, how she was able to get to New York and launch her stage career, and where she found the inner strength to make it at a time when women suffered more than their share of career limitations. She also discussed her midlife crisis (precipitated by more than a few major life events) that led to a rich and fulfilling second adulthood. I invite you to take a listen to this very special broadcast on Feisty Side of Fifty Radio and learn more about the life of this amazing woman.
And, if you’re Florence Henderson fan (and who isn’t?), you’ll also want to check out her autobiography, her website, and her show on RLTV. In fact, we can all take a page from Florence’s book, Life is Not a Stage. As she put it, her success formula is simple: “Stay open to the unexpected. Learn to let go of your self-limiting thinking… Don’t be afraid to say yes a lot… And stay courageous in your quest for inner peace and a life full of love.”
To my way of thinking, that’s perfect advice for those of us on the Feisty Side of Fifty. Thank you Florence—you truly are a “lovely lady” both in the looks department and in your heart and soul!
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