What? So, I cried. So what? Don’t judge.
Three thoughts she offered that summed up her 25-year show:
- She and her viewers made unprecedented strides to eradicate shame by letting people “get it out” and then being grateful for their courage.
- “There’s a difference between feeling you DESERVE happiness and actually feeling WORTHY of happiness.” We are all worthy, the minute we walk into the room. No one can create that sense within you, but you.
- Most human behavior can be explained by the need to be validated: “I see you, I hear you and what you say matters to me.”
Diva.
She will forever be labeled so to me. Whatever your feelings about her, you cannot deny that she gave voice to millions of women (and, eventually, men) who needed to be heard.
What her work has taught us about modern human suffering, and the twinkle of hope that WILL NOT be extinguished in spite of the darkness, changed the tenor of American society forever. Forever better, forever heard, forever relieved of suffering.
Much has been made of the word “hope” thanks to Obama, and much has been done to malign and patronize this word, no thanks to cranky, disillusioned critics. No amount of grumpiness can undermine the depth to which millions have enjoyed the true essence of the word, thanks to Oprah’s show. In so doing, she helped open and ignite the souls of so many of the deeply wounded. Hope indeed… and inspiration most often put into action.
I raise my glass to her as one of the premier cultural anthropologists of our time — sorry if that offends scientists with integrity, but you know you looked at culture in new ways as a result of her show. Working in health education with countless people over 20 years, I’ve seen it time after time; people finding their best thinking and totally changing their course for the better because of the forum she put before us.
In short, Oprah fortifies one of our beloved mantras: Other people matter. Our gratitude for their contribution to our lives makes the world go around.
Thank you, Ms. O. And thank you to your team (village).