Originally Published October 27, 2004 -- Your Wellness
Guide
Carol Duvall Balances
Her Life
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|
No
matter where you are in your life, change is one sure constant. As
a result, life can be seen as either consistently chaotic or happily
adventurous — it’s up to you.
Called
the “Queen of Crafts,” Carol Duvall of Home and Garden Television’s
(HGTV) The Carol Duvall Show has certainly seen her share of
changes yet maintains a positive outlook. As the 10-year run on her
series comes to a close, I sat down with Duvall to talk about
creativity, change, and how she balances her life. |
“Even though
I really enjoy making things, I’m not that much of an artist,” says the
host, who became an integral part in shaping one of the first original
programs on HGTV.
Before there
was such a thing as dedicated crafting stores and products, Duvall was
simply using her creativity to fashion original objects out of bleach
bottles, egg cartons, and cereal boxes. “That’s where my mind still goes
when I have a project to create,” says Duvall. “I think ‘What do I have
in the house?’”
Duvall has
regularly taped dozens of episodes each year since the series inception,
making for nonstop work. The series has now filmed more than 1000
episodes.
Speaking
about what she does to maximize her downtime, as an avid reader she
regularly keeps up with Newsweek, Time, the New Yorker, and
reads mystery novels. “At my home, I don’t have a lawn or garden. I’m
right on Lake Michigan, and I like sitting near the water.” For Duvall,
the looking out across the lake gives her a sense of home and serenity.
Because she
is always on the run, she doesn’t like to take breaks. But Duvall’s
producers have insisted over the years that she take a break once a week
for a massage. Duvall believes that the regular massages have helped her
stay strong and well.
Up until a
few years ago, Duvall was a regular downhill skier. After hip surgery,
however, she says she needs to get back into regular exercise, something
she has struggled with for years. “I do not get the exercise I need. I
never have. I have been promising myself that for many years. However, I
don’t use the excuse anymore of ‘I don’t have any time.’ We all have the
same amount of time. Obviously, I don’t want to do it bad enough.”
Family has
also been an important part of Duvall’s life. After a daughter-in-law
died a few years back, no one wanted to spend Christmas at home because it
was too sad. So, moving forward, they decided as a family to go on a
cruise up the Amazon. This year, the family will go to New York for the
holidays. And, with an adventurous spirit, the next trip might be to
Antarctica — seriously!
Duvall
continues to accept new opportunities. And, once her show finishes this
fall, she will transition to the Shop At Home Network. Expecting to have
a little more personal time on her hands, she says she would like to work
on projects she has been procrastinating — scrapbooking, organizing
important family documents, and writing another book. With an attitude
that precedes everything she does, “I appreciate every glorious day.”
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