For decades, Al Roker has brought joy, humor, and reliable weather updates into the homes of millions of Americans. But behind the infectious laughter and light-hearted on-air presence lies a man who has quietly undergone a profound transformation — one rooted in gratitude, reflection, and love. Now, as he celebrates turning 70, Roker is opening up in a deeply personal way, revealing a side of himself the public rarely sees.

“It’s a little embarrassing,” Roker admits with a chuckle when asked about being the center of attention for his milestone birthday. “I’m usually the one throwing the party, not the one being celebrated.” For someone who has spent a lifetime under studio lights, his humility is striking. “While I love being on TV and doing what I do, from a personal standpoint, I don’t like attention,” he says. “I tend to deflect.”

But this year, there was no hiding in the background. Following a surprise-filled celebration on NBC’s Today show, Roker spoke exclusively to PEOPLE, offering a rare glimpse into his inner world and what life has come to mean for him after a harrowing health scare in 2022.

In late 2022, Roker was hospitalized for blood clots that moved from his leg to his lungs — a potentially fatal condition that left him fighting for his life. The experience deeply changed his outlook. “Having come close to losing all that, you learn to really appreciate it,” he says. “It’s just the little things that matter.”

The ordeal brought into focus what he now considers most important: family, love, and the simple joys of everyday life. “At the end of the day,” Roker reflects, “the people that are closest to you — because everything else can fall away, your job, whatever — but the people that matter are the ones that make a difference in your life.”

Roker is now cherishing every moment with his family, including his wife, ABC journalist Deborah Roberts, and their children, Leila and Nicholas. He also shares a daughter, Courtney, with his ex-wife, Alice Bell. His stories about family life aren’t grand or glamorous — they’re deeply human and surprisingly touching.

“One of my favorite moments recently was just driving with my daughter who lives in Paris,” he says. “She was visiting, and while we were on our way home, she was doing the New York Times crossword and asked me for help with clues. It reminded me so much of when she was in middle and high school. That little interaction just filled my heart.”

He lights up when talking about time spent with his son. “I love going to the farmer’s market with him and making him breakfast before he heads back to college. Just the little simple thing of making breakfast for your kid — it grounds you.”

While Roker has always infused his broadcasts with warmth and authenticity, these moments reveal an even more intimate, emotional side of him — one driven by deep appreciation for life and relationships. The birthday celebrations, though uncomfortable for the modest weatherman, offered a chance for the public to see the depth of that emotion.

“It’s taken me 69 years to get to the point where I just accept it and be grateful for it — to have gratitude that people care enough to do that,” Roker says of the attention he received. “Even the fans who show up at Rockefeller Plaza with signs — it’s lovely. The idea that total strangers would come down and take time to make up a sign, and not have any profanity on it, is I think pretty special,” he adds with a laugh.

His story is not just about reaching 70 — it’s about how facing mortality can illuminate what’s truly essential. Roker’s journey from near-death to deep gratitude is a powerful reminder that life’s greatest treasures are often the simplest ones: a shared crossword puzzle, a breakfast with your child, a sign held by a stranger.

In a world constantly chasing more — more fame, more success, more recognition — Al Roker’s message at 70 is refreshingly different. What matters most, he says, isn’t how many people know your name or how many accolades you’ve earned. It’s who you hold close, and who holds you.

And in revealing this quieter, more reflective side of himself, Roker has given his fans a gift far more enduring than any forecast: a glimpse of what it truly means to live a full and meaningful life.