Richard Simmons shares special voicemail message with fans for first time in years

“A little message to make you smile! » the fitness guru said

Richard Simmons shares a special message for his fans.

On May 6, the 75-year-old posted a video on YouTube telling his followers how much he loves them – his first voice message in several years.

“Hello everyone, it’s Richard!” he said in the clip, which featured a cartoon version of Simmons holding a megaphone. “Thank you very much for reading my messages. Roses are red, violets are blue. Do you know how much I love you? Have a nice day. Goodbye for now.”

“A little message to make you smile! » he added in the caption.

Simmons also tells PEOPLE exclusively, “I just wanted to thank everyone for their continued love and support.”

In recent months, Simmons has shared many inspiring messages on social media. In a lengthy Facebook post on March 18, he offered tips for maintaining a healthy diet and active lifestyle, while encouraging his fans to “enjoy life to the fullest.”

“I have some news to tell you. Please do not be sad. I die. Oh, I can see your faces now. The truth is that we are all dying. Every day we live, we move closer to our death,” he wrote at the time. “Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to enjoy your life to the fullest every day. Get up in the morning and look at the sky…count your blessings and enjoy.

Related: Richard Simmons Shares Uplifting Message As He Reflects On Being ‘Moked’ For: ‘I’m Happy To Be Me!’ »

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In her article, Simmons emphasized the importance of eating three healthy meals a day, including dessert “every once in a while.”

“One day of eating well will lead to the next…and the next,” he said.

The fitness guru has also encouraged his fans to stay active as much as possible, promoting his workout videos available on YouTube. “Every day of your life you have to move. Whether standing or sitting, you need to move your body every day. Start with stretching, then cardio and strength,” Simmons continued.

“There is something else very important that you must do,” he concluded. “Tell those you love that you love them. Hug the people and children you truly care about. A big hug really goes a long way. If you have time, I want you to listen to a great song. It’s by Tim McGraw and it’s called Live Like You Were Dying. Live today and don’t forget to pray.

Simmons received plenty of praise for his advice in the comments section. Despite the alarming “death” comment, a longtime friend of the star told PEOPLE that Simmons was “healthy and happy,” noting that the post was “purely an inspirational message.”

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