Health
James Van Der Beek Hoping to ‘Rest’ and ‘Recover’ This Winter Amid Stage 3 Cancer Battle
James Van Der Beek is not rushing to accomplish his New Year’s goals.
On Thursday, January 16, the Dawson’s Creek alum, 48 — who is battling cancer — posted an Instagram Reel in which he discussed how the new year should be celebrated in the spring and he’s opting to focus on healing this winter.
“Anybody else out there finding that your New Year’s resolution was impossible to keep?” Van Der Beek asked his followers. “I’m gonna say something. I don’t think it’s your fault. I think it makes total sense.”
“Why are we celebrating a New Year in the dead of winter?” he continued. “Why are we celebrating new beginnings at a time when nature rests? Animals are hibernating, birds fly south for the winter.”
The Varsity Blues star added that “the time to celebrate a new beginning, and a new you, and a new resolution is in the spring,” posing the question, “Why are we fighting nature?”
“I’m gonna say screw it,” he concluded. “I’m gonna take the winter to recover, to rest, and I’m gonna make New Year’s resolutions in the spring.”
Van Der Beek captioned his video: “In the winter, the days are shorter and the nights are longer. But instead of being reminded how perfect this season is for cocooning, eating stew, snuggling and sleeping… why are we being told this is the time to buy a gym membership?”
As Star previously reported, the Dancing with the Stars alum revealed in November 2024 that he was diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer.
One year later, the actor announced he was auctioning off some of his film and TV career memorabilia, with “100 percent of the proceeds” going to him “to help with the financial cost of fighting cancer,” according to People.
During an interview with Us Weekly, Van Der Beek — who had to miss the September Dawson’s Creek reunion because of a stomach virus — gave an update on his health.
“I feel a little bit better every month,” he told the outlet in December. “It’s required more of me — more patience, more discipline. More strength than I knew I had. I knew I was strong, I didn’t know I was this strong.”
