Lucy Kennedy has opened up about finding a new appreciation for life as she has gotten older, admitting that while her days are often chaotic and overwhelming, she feels more grateful now than ever before.
The presenter, who is balancing radio, television, writing books and family life with husband Richie and their three children, says she has learned not to take the good things in life for granted.
“Life is better than I thought it would be,” Lucy told RSVP Magazine.
“I always wanted three babies. I’m still very in love, happily married to my husband. I’m so glad that happened.”
Lucy admitted that growing up with divorced parents left her carrying fears about history repeating itself, so having a happy family is something she has never taken for granted.
“My own parents separated, so there’s always the fear of history repeating itself,” she explained. “And with me it didn’t.”
Alongside her family life, Lucy says she also feels grateful to still have a successful career after years in the industry.
“I still have a successful career. So far I’m healthy. Our children are happy,” she said. “It’s something that I don’t take for granted, ever, especially with work.”
The Living With Lucy presenter believes age and life experience have completely changed her perspective.
“I definitely didn’t appreciate what I had in my 20s and probably not in my 30s either,” she admitted.
“I think as I get older — and as awful as it is — it’s watching people being diagnosed, people dying, marriages falling apart.”
Now, she says, she finds herself looking at life very differently.
“I’m looking around now as a 50-year-old going, ‘God, I have nothing to complain about’,” she said.
“I can bang on that I need to tone my stomach and stop drinking white wine, but I have nothing to really complain about.”
Despite her upbeat personality, Lucy also admitted there are days when everything feels overwhelming.
“There are days I definitely get overwhelmed,” she shared. “And I always want to be honest about that because I think in the world we live in, perception is just not the reality.”
The presenter revealed that broadcaster Colm Hayes once gave her advice she still leans on when she feels particularly overwhelmed.
“Colm always tells me this, and it’s a piece of advice I pass on — ‘You know Luce, you’re building all these bricks in front of you so you can’t see over the wall. Just put all the bricks side by side’.”
Lucy admitted she still has moments where she questions whether she has taken on too much.
“Do I lie down and cry and think, ‘Oh my God, I’ve taken on too much?’ Yes, at least twice a month,” she laughed.
“I’m permanently tired but I think I have the personality to be able to pick myself up quickly.”
Still, she says grounding herself and remembering where she came from helps her keep perspective.
“I just think there’s so many people worse off, and I’m giving out because I have too much work,” she said.
“What about the days not that long ago, when I was 25, with no work and on the dole? So I’m a great leveller. I always go back to grounding myself.”
And while she is juggling a huge amount with radio, TV projects, corporate work, books and family life all demanding her attention, Lucy admits she finds it hard to say no to things..
“I think I have a busy mind, I kind of like having a lot,” she said.
“I’m my own worst enemy. If I do have a day off, I will find something to do and then give out that I’m tired.”
“And God forbid, if people just thought ‘Lucy Kennedy is a pain in the ass, we’re not going to hire her anymore’, I would look back and miss what I have”, she explains.
“And even with our children – they are 16, 14 and nine – they have different needs, different demands. Some days, I’m dealing with stroppy teenagers, other days we’re laughing, but again, I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
The Mini Breakers by Lucy Kennedy, published by Bonnier Books UK, is available in book stores from 7 May.
Pick up the latest issue of RSVP Magazine to read Lucy’s chat in full, on shelves now.
- Photography by Kieran Harnett
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