When the Road Is Rough, Look to Those Ahead of You On Life’s Path: Carol Burnett and Mel Brooks Shine As Beacons of Wisdom and Optimism

On June 28, Mel Brooks turned 96 years old—and we celebrated the actor, comedian, and filmmaker who has reminded us to look for the funny for years. In his still best-selling memoir, All About Me!, Brooks charts his meteoric rise from a Depression-era kid in Brooklyn to the recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Whether serving in the United States Army in World War II, or during his burgeoning career as a teenage comedian in the Catskills, Mel was always mining his experiences for material—always looking for the perfect joke. And if there’s one thing we know for sure: Having a sense of humor is one of the great keys of life.

This week, we were also reminded of our love for comedian Carol Burnett, who touched our hearts this week when we read this interview she gave Vanity Fair. The reason she gave the interview? The author, Olivia Freeman—a 17-year-old high school student and fan—called Burnett and left her a message about how much she admires and respects the 89-year-old icon. Freeman also mentioned the high school club she founded, where she interviews industry professionals. So, Burnett offered to do an interview with Freeman, and they talked about everything from Burnett’s upbringing to her friendship with Lucille Ball to The Carol Burnett Show and more. This interview is full of insight and inspiration for aging forward into our best years!