The Life Of A Writer – An Oprah Farewell
“I know you don’t have children of your own, but you have mothered millions.” – Jada Pinkett to Oprah Winfrey
After watching Oprah’s last show, I think it goes without saying that she has had a phenonemal impact on the world for the last 25 years.
As I pondered writing this post, I wanted to really give thought to how Oprah has personally been one of my inspirations and influenced my life.
The first time I met Oprah I was about twelve years old. As a child it was a life changing experience to see an African American woman who hosted her own television show, because it was around that age that I was fully coming to realize my own dreams. Seeing someone else who’d achieved their dreams said that I too could do the same and like many of you I watched her every move very closely.
Since that day, I visited her show three more times and each time her light shined brighter than the last. Her influence was far reaching and her influence had been coined the Oprah Effect. As I sat in the audience of her shows, at times it was hard to concentrate, because my inner being was saying to me that I too could be, do or have, anything I want, just as she had.
As an audience, over the years, we were able to get to know Oprah better. She opened up about her weight issues and sexual abuse as a child. She was authentic and transparent in so many ways and despite what she’d been through she still had a genuine desire to help people to live their best lives.
She influenced book readers to purchase over thirty million books. Yes, you read that right!
30 Million.
She sent 64,688 children to school and 415 men to Morehouse college through scholarships. She provided her show as an outlet for others to become a success, to share their stories of triumph and pains. She gave countless gifts to her studio audience, both materially and spiritually.
“You get a car and you get a car!” – Oprah Winfrey
As a female, who has since a little girl had numerous dreams, and some of those dreams might have seemed impossible to some, she made it feasible to achieve them. She is a true testament as to why you should think twice about giving up on people. Despite a tumultuous childhood riddled with sexual abuse and an unwanted pregnancy, Oprah Winfrey still managed to overcome those obstacles and become one of the most recognizable names when you think of philanthropy. She is revered by people around the world. She discovered her purpose and lived it. Fully. Publicly. Without apologies.
What did Oprah teach me? She taught me to give of myself, my knowledge, my talents, my gifts. She taught me how to be authentic, despite how naked it might make me feel. She taught me that whatever I dream, the universe can deliver even bigger.
Please share what influence Oprah has had on your life in the comment section below.
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*sigh*, this was absolutly a bittersweet occasion. I'm going to miss knowing that I'll be able to tune in to see her daily. So happy I still have OWN. The moorehouse men brought me to tears. I couldn't help but to think of my 3 year old son. I vow right now to have him get that scholarship, lol!
Today's final show was so empowering. I just loved her words and I will keep this show for as long as my DVR allows me to.