After more than 35 years on Wheel of Fortune, Vanna White is in no hurry to retire from her fabulous showbiz gig! “I love my job, and I can’t imagine not doing it,” the 61-year-old star revealed during an exclusive new interview with Closer Weekly in the magazine’s latest issue, on newsstands now.

“You turn on the TV today, and everything is so negative. It’s nice to have 30 minutes of fun with Wheel of Fortune,” she continued. While speaking with Closer, Vanna also revealed the amazing life advice her late mother one gave her that still resonates with her today. “Never give up, no matter what,” she shared. “Follow your heart and follow your dream. And that’s what I did.”

After suffering a devastating miscarriage in 1992, Vanna went on to have two children — son Niko, 24, and daughter Gigi, 21 — with ex-husband George Santo Pietro. Thankfully, the star’s Wheel of Fortune gig allowed her to be a hands-on mom. “When they were younger, they were able to travel with me or come to the show. I thank God every day for all that He has given me,” she told Closer.

Today, Vanna is happily dating her boyfriend John Donaldson, whom she’s been in a relationship with since 2013. “Will we get married? I don’t know,” she revealed. “At this point, I feel like I am married. Everything is so good, there’s no reason to change anything.”

Through everything, Vanna said she now knows the secret to lasting happiness. “We’re faced with a lot of positives and negatives, and we have to accept them and do whatever we can to get through it,” she said. “It’s like if you break an arm — it takes time, but it does heal. Life is not perfect — just try to make the best of it. Be strong, be kind to people, and be happy.”

For more on Vanna White, pick up the latest issue of Closer Weekly, on newsstands now — and be sure to sign up for our newsletter for more exclusive news!