Dia Dipasupil/WireImage Working on her new book has actressValerie Bertinellifeeling reflective, especially when it comes to her late mother. In a FridayInstagram post, theOne Day at a Timestar shared the latest addition to her workspace — a photo of her mom, Nancy, in her youth — which has had her thinking about their relationship as she works on her new project. "I added a picture of my mom just recently," she wrote alongside a shot of her computer with the photo propped up next to it. "This is her at 18, I think. Isn't she beautiful?" Bertinelli continued, "I've been talking to her a lot lately. I know she hears me. I can feel it, but I wish she were here so I could see it in her eyes. There was so much left unsaid when she was alive. My regrets have passed, but I hope she knows how much I loved her." Nancy died in 2019 of rheumatoid arthritis at 82. "As I sat down at my computer to continue edits, and reading, and writing for my new book, (I'll let you know more when it gets closer to pub date) I started thinking about inspiration and how my work surface has changed through the years," Bertinelli shared. Referring to a plaque with a quote sitting next to the picture of her mother, she wrote, "I've had this quote 'Life does not put things in front of you that you are unable to handle' for what feels like forever, always sitting there, always reminding me." Bertinelli continued, "It has proven to be quite true. Life may feel incredibly difficult and challenging sometimes, but I always get through it. And the happier, peaceful times far outweigh the difficult ones." The star and celebrity chef has been getting vulnerable with her Instagram followers of late. In May, she addressed how she was doing in the wake of "some of the most emotionally excruciating eight months" of her professional and personal life. On the professional side, in 2024, the actress joinedThe Drew Barrymore Showas a lifestyle expert, started hosting the Game Show Network'sBingo Blitz, and also put out a new cookbook,Indulge. "And I still got my exhausted, sleepless ass up in the morning, put on a good face, and showed up, when all I wanted to do was stay in bed and sob," Bertinelli wrote. "This is not to say I feel sorry for myself because I don't." Unique Nicole/Getty Sign up forEntertainment Weekly's free daily newsletterto get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. In her personal life, Bertinelli began dating writer Mike Goodnough in January 2024, but the couple ultimatelyparted waysthis past November. "Nobody has the market cornered on grief and heartache," Bertinelli wrote. "People go through hard s--- all the time. You just do what you have to do to get through what you have to get through." Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly