A funny thing happened to comedy star Mary Walsh as she got older 害羞草研究所� instead of slipping into the sad and gloomy decline society had warned her about, she found herself getting happier.

At first she thought it was just her, but then she researched it and realized science has shown it害羞草研究所檚 a common feeling that comes with age, 害羞草研究所漬o matter what your physical ailments or your money situation.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淣ow, if you have been miserably unhappy, you害羞草研究所檙e not going to shine with the light of 10,000 suns, but you害羞草研究所檙e going to be happier than you were when you were 46 when you害羞草研究所檙e 66,害羞草研究所� says the St. John害羞草研究所檚 satirist, who recently gave a TEDx Talk in Toronto about old-age happiness.

害羞草研究所淚 remember reading years and years ago that life was full of 1,000 tendernesses and thinking, 害羞草研究所極h yeah.害羞草研究所� But then it hit me: that is true. As I get older and more wrinkly, I can害羞草研究所檛 see myself really because my eyes are gone, and so when I look in the mirror, I look quite good,害羞草研究所� the 66-year-old continues with a laugh.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 the world being tender with you. You害羞草研究所檙e losing everything that you have, everything that you害羞草研究所檝e depended on, everything that you害羞草研究所檝e known 害羞草研究所� and to make up for that, you害羞草研究所檙e happier.害羞草研究所�

Indeed, Walsh appears to be living her best life these days.

The creator of the CBC comedy 害羞草研究所淭his Hour Has 22 Minutes害羞草研究所� was announced Thursday as the recipient of the Earle Grey Award at this year害羞草研究所檚 Canadian Screen Awards, set for March 31.

The award is for her body of work, which has also included starring in the 1980s-害羞草研究所�90s 害羞草研究所滳ODCO害羞草研究所� sketch comedy series, and writing, producing and starring in the mid-2000s sitcom 害羞草研究所淗atching, Matching and Dispatching.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 keep trying to be very calm about it and go, 害羞草研究所榊es, I害羞草研究所檓 very good,害羞草研究所� but actually inside I害羞草研究所檓 leaping up and down and bubbling,害羞草研究所� Walsh says. 害羞草研究所淚t is, of course, a great honour.害羞草研究所�

It害羞草研究所檚 one of many things Walsh has on the go.

She害羞草研究所檚 currently starring in the CBC series 害羞草研究所淟ittle Dog,害羞草研究所� preparing for another appearance on 害羞草研究所�22 Minutes害羞草研究所� and planning a cross-Canada trip with 害羞草研究所�22 Minutes害羞草研究所� cast member Cathy Jones to record online sketches featuring their 害羞草研究所渙ld-lady characters.害羞草研究所�

Walsh is also doing a short documentary with the National Film Board of Canada on how 害羞草研究所渨omen get more radical as they age.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淎gain with the 1,000 tendernesses theme that I seem to be playing, we find ourselves sexually invisible at some point. We find that we害羞草研究所檙e not the object of anyone害羞草研究所檚 desire anymore, we fall out of that place,害羞草研究所� Walsh says in discussing the doc.

害羞草研究所淏ut the big payoff for that is we suddenly become the subject of our own lives for the first time害羞草研究所�. It is a great revelation, to get older and to just feel that freedom of being the subject of your own life as opposed to longing to be the object of someone else害羞草研究所檚 desire.害羞草研究所�

Walsh is also writing a feature film screenplay about Newfoundland and Labrador害羞草研究所檚 1966 Come Home Year civic event, in which those who hailed from the province were encouraged to return. The story features a 13-year-old girl who is sent back 害羞草研究所渢o the people who didn害羞草研究所檛 want her in the first place,害羞草研究所� Walsh says.

The film is taking longer to write than Walsh expected.

害羞草研究所淚 find that all mountains are steep now and that all steps are more slow,害羞草研究所� she says.

But she doesn害羞草研究所檛 lose heart over such matters anymore.

害羞草研究所淚 think, 害羞草研究所楴o, I害羞草研究所檒l just keep going. I害羞草研究所檒l get a chance at it again. I害羞草研究所檒l sit down at it again and I害羞草研究所檒l keep going,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 says Walsh, who is also a mental-health advocate.

害羞草研究所淲hereas before I would just go, 害羞草研究所極h, well, obviously then I害羞草研究所檓 not meant to do that,害羞草研究所� and say goodbye.害羞草研究所�

Victoria Ahearn, The Canadian Press

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