I just spent two hours fast forwarding through the goodbye extravaganza for Oprah. I wasn't going to do it. First of all, I hate goodbyes, but seeing previews I sort of felt like the performance was going to be more of a vehicle for stars to showcase themselves rather then truly honor Oprah. Some of that happened, but magic was there, as well. Oprah has always been good at magic.
Thinking back over the past 25 years I wonder how many conversations I have started with, "Did you see Oprah?". Many, I'm sure, cuz I have loved me some Oprah. I have been setting my recorder for the 4:00 pm slot for so many years that it won't know what to do with itself now that she has brought the Oprah show to a close. She is hardly gone, as we all know. The woman has her own (get it? own? he he) network, for heavens sake. Her influence will still be floating around out there in the zone of the "aha" moment, but it won't be the same and I'm going to miss her. The books, the Favorite Things (Hi Georgia! Can't wait to meet your new Bug!), recipes, movies, cars, decorating, and on and on. The thing I'm going to miss most is that she made me think. I didn't always agree, but I considered it. Whatever "it" was, I thought on it and there are few things I love more than something to think about. Something to research and turn over and around in my mind.
Oh, and how she inspired. Lord have mercy she pours inspriation out of every darn pore of her being. When she looked into the camera and told me that I had value and purpose I believed her. I still do. I realize that she has the power of money and influence, but she uses that money and influence to plant seeds. Seeds that grow into education and confidence and extraordinary people. People who will pay if forward. If you saw the show then you saw all those men who walked in carrying candles. Men who were aided in education by Oprah and have used their own money to form a scholarship to help educate other young men. That was one powerful moment. One of many that I'll carry around in my memory and heart and pull out when I need to be reminded of the power of good.
She said something once that really stuck with me and I can't quote her accurately, but it was something like "we do the best with what we have. When we don't know, we can't do anything about it, but when we do know, when we DO know, then it's up to us how to use that knowledge." I can't tell you how often I think of those words; how often I ask myself " now that you know, what are you going to do?" Thanks, Oprah. We don't always want to tell ourselves the truth, but we need to. We need to know the truth and act on it.
So this is goodbye, Oprah. Goodbye to you being a daily part of my life. I wish you all sorts of well. Love and light and peace in your life. Time to do and be what your heart desires. You've earned it. I will miss you. WE will miss you. Thanks for 25 years of helping me to see what I never could have without you. For the tears and the cheers and the singular Oprah magic, thank you and Namaste.
"My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment." Oprah Winfrey


