Rachael Ray is “more mindful than ever of how lucky” she is following her devastating house fire.
Rachael Ray
The 52-year-old celebrity chef's home on Chuckwagon Trail in Lake Luzerne, New York, was engulfed in a big blaze back in August, and when added to the heartbreaking death of her pet dog and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Rachael says her 2020 has definitely been “strange”.
But the chef isn’t letting the tragedies get her down, as they’ve each reminded her of her privilege, and made her appreciate her life more than ever.
Writing in the editor’s letter for the ‘Rachael Ray In Season’ holiday issue, she said: “This year has been strange for us all. But 2020 has also made me more mindful than ever of just how lucky I am.
“Over the last 12 months, in addition to witnessing the crises that have gripped our country, I lost my dog of 15 years, then lost my home to a fire.”
Rachael also said she’s “grateful” she was able to “take sanctuary” in a different house when hers caught fire, as she knows others wouldn’t have had that luxury.
She added: “I’m grateful to the first responders who saved my life. I’m grateful for the opportunity to rebuild. I’m grateful I had a place to stay when my world caught fire, where I could take sanctuary, and that I learned, in a way I hadn’t really understood before, the difference between a house and a home.
“We can all fall into a place where we take for granted things we should be grateful for. When you lose them, you understand their value in a more complete and meaningful way. In an odd way, it enriches you.”
Meanwhile, Rachael previously said she has “learned nothing but gratitude” following her devastating house fire.
Speaking in September, she said: "It's overwhelming, but you have to stay mindful and positive and it's remarkable how many people come out in your community and your friends and your viewers - we all have a bigger circle than we know.
"We've learned nothing but gratitude. We lost our home and I just can't tell you how important it is to listen to your first responders.”