oprah.

so i just finished watching the last episode of oprah ever. 25 years she's been on the air and she's never missed a show, a total of 4,561 shows.  can you imagine never missing a day at work?  granted... oprah found her calling and i'm sure it was [almost] no problem for her to go to work... but... 4561 shows?! really?!


the reason for my post is not to praise oprah for the woman that she is (although i could because she really has done a lot for so many people).  the reason for my post is to reflect on what she said today, the last day of her show.  love her or hate her, oprah has really found and taught some invaluable lessons on her show. i've never really connected to the show or oprah herself and have always watched it for the entertainment factor.  however... she explained today what she tried to do over the years, the foundation on which she developed her show on.  and let me tell ya, it all makes sense now.  


i think what i got most from oprah's shpiel today was the fact that... each individual person creates their own destiny.  oprah talked a little bit about religion and God and how that all plays a part in her life. but the fact of the matter is, some people are not religious.  i, for example, have never really believed in any sort of real higher power. i've always believed that if i want something or if i want to get somewhere, i have to make that happen myself.  i thought that the message that oprah delivered today really supported the thought that i can make things happen and i am the only one that can make things happen for myself.  




a few segments of the show that i found especially touching:


"Everybody has a calling, and your real job in life is to figure out what that is and get about the business of doing it... Because that is what a calling is. It lights you up and it lets you know that you are exactly where you're supposed to be, doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing. And that is what I want for all of you and hope that you will take from this show. To live from the heart of yourself. You have to make a living; I understand that. But you also have to know what sparks the light in you so that you, in your own way, can illuminate the world."


"Here's what I learned from all of that... Nobody but you is responsible for your life. It doesn't matter what your mama did; it doesn't matter what your daddy didn't do. You are responsible for your life. ... You are responsible for the energy that you create for yourself, and you're responsible for the energy that you bring to others... All life is energy and we are transmitting it at every moment. We are all little beaming little signals like radio frequencies, and the world is responding in kind."


"The show has taught me there is a common thread that runs through all of our pain and all of our suffering, and that is unworthiness. Not feeling worthy enough to own the life you were created for. Even people who believe they deserve to be happy and have nice things often don't feel worthy once they have them."


"There is a difference, you know, between thinking you deserve to be happy and knowing you are worthy of happiness... What I got was we often block our own blessings because we don't feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough... the show has taught me you're worthy because you are born and because you are here. Your being here, your being alive makes worthiness your birthright. You alone are enough."




the past couple days i have really been thinking about balance. the balance between work, play, time to chillax... etc etc. how i feel like an old maid sometimes and dont feel like i'm 24 years old and feeling like i should go out and experience life and fun and just enjoy my time.  people talk about going out... getting drunk and hammered and wasted and shwasty facety... and yes. i do miss that. very much. very very much. life is just not the same for me anymore.  i guess its getting older. i guess its living in nashville. i guess its not being with old friends and being surrounded in that kind of environment.  whatever it is and whatever it may be, its just not the same.  someone asked me recently, "do you live to work or work to live?" and i had to reply that right now... i live to work. i wish it weren't so, because i would love to live by the motto that i work to live but i guess the biggest thing is that knowing what i want to do and knowing that my career is important to me... i really dont mind living to work.  i love the fact that i enjoy my job and that i feel so fortunate that i know what i want to do with my life in terms of career.  i worry about those people who are walking aimlessly on college campuses not knowing their true calling. and although i do not know if video production really is my true calling, at least i feel like my compass is pointing in the right direction.  




so... long story short. oprah's show made me think. i thought a lot. and now i'm going to bed.