Growing Up On Oprah

Courtesy of Alan Light on FlickrAs most of you probably know by now, Oprah announced that she will end The Oprah Winfrey Show in September 2011, at the close of her 25th season. I’m so unbelievably sad that she’ll be ending her show as we know it. But I’m also excited to see what she cooks up on her new network, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.

I can't express my profound gratitude in just one blog post or letter, but I need to start somewhere. The Oprah Winfrey Show has been my life too for more than 10 years now. I grew up on her show and grew up because of her  show.

Saying goodbye to her show is like giving up the food that emotionally feeds me each day. I watch her show religiously. Actually, Ted calls her “my religion.” I anxiously await new shows during her winter and summer breaks.

My 20s were a tumultuous time for me, as I’m sure many of you can relate. I was awakened in my 20s to the idea of consciousness and to the search of who I truly am, to my purpose of being.

As children, I think we live with a deeper sense of knowing. How I spend my time now looks very similar to how I spent my time in childhood. I knew what I liked, what I didn’t and what I wanted to be when I grew up.

However, as I got older I began to internalize the voices all around me - parents, teachers, friends, other parents, television, etc. - that told me how I should behave and who I should be. Even if the messages weren’t direct, I heard too frequently what others thought was right or wrong, good or bad, wise or foolish.

It was clear to me what I needed to do to fit in. From my culture, my family, my society and my community, I took on what a “good girl and daughter” should do and be. It was in my 20s, with the immense help of the Oprah Show, that I began and continue to sift through the junk that piled up, hiding my true being.

The Oprah Winfrey Show gave and continues to give me the tools and insights to dig deeper and reflect. It gives me real-life examples so I no longer feel alone - that “crazy” feeling we all get when we think we’re the only ones who know what this feels like. Her show makes me more compassionate, of myself and of others. I see myself through others experiences and pain. 

Ultimately, her show makes me feel seen and heard and whole. It allows me feel okay to be me, to be human and to live with my imperfections. A million thank yous to Oprah and her show for being an amazing inspiration in my life each and every day.

Comments

[Beth Y]

Okay, well your waxing a little sappy about your love for Oprah... ;) but as always its your journey to your conclusion that wows me. You are so right, I have spent the last 10 years on a journey to get back to the me of childhood. Oh my god! Does this happen to everyone? I've finally freed myself of many of my 'shoulds' too and it feels good.

I do love Oprah too. I'm only worried that my cable won't carry the new network!

[Vania Tashjian Frank]

Yes, I have my own little love affair going on with that show ;-) And it's never waned! And I'm about to wax some more sappy about her show...hearing you describe your experience in the past 10 years makes me feel more connected to you, and to myself. That's exactly what her show does for me.

It's nice to know I'm not alone in my experience in adulthood. I suspect that WE'RE not alone either. Actually, I'm pretty certain we're not. I'd love to hear more about how you've shed the 'shoulds'. That's a work-in-progress for me. I'm curious if it has something to do with motherhood, based on what we've talked about?