I admit that in the last few years, I've not been the avid viewer that I once was while a young mother and teacher. Though, I can remember seeing her on TV as far back as third grade.
I never really took the time to sit and listen to her show until I was an eighteen year old college student sitting in my dorm alone while reflecting back on my childhood and dreaming of my future.
I listened intently when she had Dr. Phil on discussing relationships and saying "What are YOU getting out of that behavior? If you weren't getting something out of it, you wouldn't keep doing it." (you know, in that Texas-dr-phil voice every comedian loves to hate on)
I read the books of Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Jacquelyn Mitchard. I had never felt more empowered, more knowledgeable and more sad while reading the words of each of these wonderful authors.
Maya Angelou taught me to hold my head up high no matter what my past said, Toni Morrison taught me how to light up when I see my children, and Jacquelyn Mitchard took me back to a dark place of loss that I had been pushing aside for a long time.
I listened to the real heart-breaking and inspiring stories of Mattie and Jeni Stepanek (who I know follow on twitter) & Joanne Compton.
I identified with so many of the stories told by real people and began a transformation of my own as I watched, listened and made time everyday at 4 pm to watch Oprah. (This was before Tivo, mind you.)
Oprah was there when I got married, had two babies, got divorced, remarried, and had another baby. Though it all looks so simple in writing, it was not and I remembered much of what I'd learned from the people on her show to get me through.
She was there to remind me to take time for me, to face those things about myself that needed changing, to show me how to celebrate life and how to come out on the other side of the pain.
She was there as I learned what a "dream board" was and how powerful it can be: I really did meet Harry Connick, Jr, became the subject of a book, was honored by an extraordinary "Freedom Writer," and began intently working on finishing my book. (all of which I posted on my board BEFORE it happened.)
And though, I never made it to her show, I still became the best version of me that I'd ever been despite any of those obstacles or mistakes.
The 5 things I've learned: Thank you, Oprah!
1. All pain is the same. Sometimes our ego gets in the way and makes us believe that our pain is worse than the person next to us. It's not. Pain is pain no matter how it comes about.
2. When you know better, you do better. If we do not know any different, then we continually do the same thing over and over. Knowing is half the battle.
3. No matter what you've endured in the past, you have the ability to change your future. We all can point to a time of tragedy or misfortune, but it's our choice to sit in it forever or get up, acknowledge it and move on.
4. You teach people who you are and how to treat you. You do whether you are conscious of it or not. If you allow them to walk over you, if you avoid setting up boundaries b/c of being afraid to "hurt feelings," or if you continue living like you do not deserve the best, the cycles will continue. Best to be conscious and avoid a world of heartache down the road.
5. Gratitude in the moment of despair will change your life forever. If you didn't already know about my 40 days of Thankfulness or my 365 days of Gratitude challenge, please visit the links and think about challenging yourself. If I had my book finished, you'd be able to read about just how non-perfect life has been and also see that no matter what, I've always had a heart of gratitude for what I do have. This habit has helped me in good and bad times to remember what's most important and pass it on to those around me.
When one person can make an impact as big as she has on our world, pass on so much of her life, her fortune, and her wisdom to others - this is living your life to the fullest.
And a HUGE shoutout to my FABULOUS friend, Christina, who'll be attending a taping THIS WEEK! :)
I <3 you Tisha!
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