“I’m such a tradition-focused person.

I like my rules, I like my boundaries.

“And you just have to enjoy yourself in the moment.

Valerie Bertinelli in Italy

Credit:Courtesy of Valerie Bertinelli

And I have learned to do that, especially traveling, following [my son] Wolfie around.

“You take your moments,” she said.

I am OK anywhere you want to put me.”

I also love going back and finding new experiences in places I’ve been to before.”

“I wanted to see it through his eyes.

I wanted to enjoy it,” she explained.

And, sometimes I’ll watch a movie if the movies are good.

Sometimes I won’t even bring my makeup, but I do need to have my skincare.

“I wrote that book while I was in the middle of grief.

I was still grieving my father, my mother, [and] Ed had just passed.

“I was grieving so much.

But she quickly realized that wasn’t working.

Instead, the only way to get over it was through.

“I was tired of my script.

I’m lucky if I have 20 or 25 years left.

And I want them to be the happiest years of my life.”

As for what Bertinelli thinks others can take from her journey, it’s the simple lesson of gratitude.

“Gratitude is everything.

It sounds so simple.

It is challenging, but in the end, it truly is simple.

Just believe that everything’s going to work out, and you’ll get through this.”

“I would’ve liked for all of that not to have happened.

But I’m grateful for where it’s gotten me.”