As promised, here's part two of my exclusive interview with author and beauty/lifestyle expert Kym Douglas and her husband actor Jerry Douglas (John, 'The Young and the Restless'). Click here to read part one.
Examiner: What was it that sparked your attraction to each other?
Jerry Douglas: She had a combination of purity and strength. She embraced you with her smile, her warmth and engendered immense sexuality with grace and lady-like elegance. I so enjoyed being with her.
Kym Douglas: He was wonderful - larger than life - down to earth yet charismatic. When Jerry walked into a room he took charge. He was a dreamer like me and he took risks. I loved that. We had everything going against us. We have an over 20-year age difference, we are different religions (I’m a Christian Jerry is Jewish) and both of us from strongly religious backgrounds. Jerry was a Hollywood actor - not the most stable job and lots of temptations, he had two children that he had sole custody of and we had just met. We found out years later, many in attendance at our wedding gave it 3 years tops!
Our differences made us stronger - neither of us morphed into the others shadow, religion or career. We both enhanced each other’s choices. I became stronger and more motivated, inspired by Jerry. He always encouraged me to ‘Go for my dreams.... to dream big or go home!’
There is an old Scottish saying that goes like this....’What’s for you, won’t go by you.’ What were the odds that a little girl from Southfield, Michigan would end up anchoring the news, doing spots on ‘The Ellen Show,’ being a regular on ‘The Doctors,’ and writing best selling beauty books? Let alone marrying a larger than life Soap Opera Star? It was all in God’s plan. There are no accidents in life and if it is for you, you have to trust it won’t go past you!
Examiner: What’s your secret to a long and happy marriage?
Jerry Douglas: To never allow a day to pass with anger and bitterness with one another. You must fight to resolve any hurt feelings and not allow them to fester within. You must continue to adapt and change as you both move thru life. And always realize and appreciate how blessed you are to truly love one another. As I said to my wife a number of times - ’I finally found the woman I've been in love with all of my life.’
Kym Douglas: Laughter and our differences. Many of the couples unfortunately that were at our wedding betting against us making it, have sadly gone through three and four marriages to our one. They were the same age, same religion, had no children from another marriage and were not in the acting or performing fields.
We laugh a lot in our relationship. We love to laugh and we love to make those around us laugh. That is what I do on ‘Ellen’ each time I’m on. I see in these darkest of economic times people just crave laughter. We all want to be happy and reach for JOY. Comedy is a great equalizer and it heals us.
Jerry is also a very strong man and a leader. I need and want that in my marriage. I trust his moral fiber and a man of character is the sexiest and best thing around!!!!
I’ve come to learn that it s not those big budget ‘Soap Opera style’ romantic moments that count, it’s the little things - the times when for no reason he brings home a small bouquet of flowers from the grocery store when it’s NOT Valentines Day. The card that he stays at the drug store extra long to find because it perfectly fits our story. It’s the gentle touches when we are rushing throughout our busy day. That’s the stuff that really makes a marriage last. You know it’s not a soap opera - its real life!
Thanks to Kym and Jerry Douglas for sharing their beautiful story.
Watch for Michigan’s Kym Douglas on ‘The Doctors’ this Wednesday February 16 at 10am on ABC/WXYZ Channel 7 in the Detroit area.
Douglas will also appear on ‘The Ellen Degeneres Show’ this Thursday February 17 at 10am on NBC/WDIV Channel 4 in the Detroit area.
Purchase Kym's books on Amazon or on her official website.
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