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It Friday morning and 9 am in Michigan. I am sitting on an Amtrak train headed to Chicago. It is a chilly morning with dew and frost on the pines, on the roofs, in the fields. The fields are lovely. I’ve seen cows, sheep, horses, some wheat fields (could it be wheat fields? Seems kind of short to be corn…I’m an urbanite and all I know is that ‘it’ was standing in neat rows). It is late fall in Michigan and the leaves have turned from a vibrant fiery red to a dull sad brown. Some leaves, remaining on the branches, are waiting for that big gust of wind to help them fall and finally, complete their life cycle.
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| Harpo Studios in Chicago |
This is the second time in three weeks that I find myself headed to Chicago so see Oprah. I wish I could be blasé and pretend that it didn’t matter, that it was no big deal (like the manager at the coffee shop that I go to). His staff member – female for sure – understood. “She’s done a lot of great things, you know?” she says to him “A lot…and a lot for women.” As she looks over at me to confirm her conviction, I affirm this, quietly, cautiously. Now why would I do that? Why would I, all of a sudden, seem embarrassed to affirm that Oprah has done great things? Especially, done great things for women.
I know…it is clear to me now… it was clear to me then… but now it makes sense. Most men don’t really ‘get’ Oprah, do they? Funny, my husband doesn’t really watch Oprah…but he knows it’s a big deal to be asked back… to be there. Period. See that is the thing, some men get what she says, what she does, how she works her magic. Some don’t.
Do men not pay attention to her because she is a woman? I wonder, if she were a man, would she have survived and prospered for 25 years on the sameshow? I mean, she and Phil Donahue were TV talk show icons when I was growing up. They fought for the same space on your television set. He was on for years but his show was eventually cancelled. HE did not go on to build his own network. Her role in many of our ordinary lives is to provide a window on the world. Through the years she has exposed us to the plight of the troubled, the destitute, the cheating spouses, introduced us to prolific authors, talented children, noble prize winners and showed us every day common folks that make a difference in this world.
The beauty of the lessons learned on Oprah’s LifeClass is that she is challenging us to be better human beings. To be reflective and happy…and learn to live our ‘best’ lives. She asks us on Friday’s LifeClass to celebrate Joy Rising: a realization, a dialog, an awaking to what is joy, what brings us joy what joy can be. This week, we will revisit the fun that she and her audience had in Australia.
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| Margarita Ibbott – LiveBlogger for #OprahsLifeClass |
Have you been watching week nights, joining the conversation on-line? Have you been sharing those #wisewords, those nuggets of ‘a-ha’ moments? I have. I’ve been trying to take in as many shows as I can. My daughters have been watching with me for some of them. Occasionally, my husband is reading the paper within earshot and sightline of the TV. We have been taking it all in so that we too can participate, with millions of other views, in this journey of self.
Tune in to the OWN Network and OWN Canada weeknights: 8 pm EST/9 CST/8 PST. The show repeats a few more times the next day. I have re-watched a couple of episodes and gone to Oprah’s LifeClass Facebook page to review. Why not? You can never learn enough about yourself, about others, about your place in the world. About how you can see Joy Rising in your life.
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How amazing that you got to see Oprah. Definitely a bucket list moment!
I am so proud of you and jealous all at the same time! What an incredible experience! Thanks for sharing:)