Did you know one of my favorite celebrities is Oprah? I watched her as a young girl everyday at 4 pm (like a lot of us) learning how to heal relationships, confront fears and visualize dreams. She entered my life at a impressionable age and I have followed her work, read her books, subscribed to her magazine and listened to her podcasts ever since. In fact, my 40th birthday celebration was inspired by Oprah’s 50th birthday party.
When one of my dearest friends told me she had tickets for a very special event in January and I needed to clear my schedule to go with her, I knew it was serious and I better clear my calendar. I received her gift when we got together in mid-December at the mall for a walk and cup of tea. Towards the end of our time together she handed me a card and the picture of Oprah (like the one above.) I immediately jumped up and down cheering, “I’m going to see Oprah! I’m really going to see Oprah! OMG OPRAH!” Tears of joy traveled down my cheeks as my heart was filled with gratitude and awe.
The time with Oprah was so inspiring. Starting at 8 am and ending at 3:30 pm, our day was filled with words of wisdom from Oprah, an interview with Tina Fey, multiple dance parties to keep us moving and energized and a quiet meditation grounding us in the moment remembering to be present along our journey. We all received a special swag bag and in it was a workbook, “Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus.” This workbook invited us to take time to be quiet and and to reflect on where we are now and where we want to be. We assessed and scored seven different areas of our life (i.e. emotions, learning, work, nutrition, movement, purpose, and relationships) and was encouraged to create three wellness intentions/goals with clarity. When we name our wellness goals, we get clear and know if our goals or intentions will bring us more meaning and fulfillment.
Oprah shared with us, “An intention is the first whisper of purpose you bring to what you do or what you say. It is the real motivation behind any action. The why behind the why. And the energy driving that motivation is what determines every outcome.”
One of my intentions was to see Oprah. I didn’t know when or how or in what setting. But I knew someday I would see her in person. This dream came true for me like the story she shared with us about trees. She wanted to have trees in her front yard ever since she met the richest person she knew at that time who had six trees. To her, trees meant success and wealth. If you had trees in your yard, you had made it big time. Now at her home in Santa Barbara, she has a forest of trees in her front yard. A manifestation of her intention.
I am not Oprah, but I hope you find nuggets of inspiration from the work I share with you. A lot of what I teach has been taught to me by qualified professionals who have lead me to evidence-based practices. These practices are balanced with my own experiences. I do not teach what I have not done or do. I get quiet, listen to my inner guidance and teach from my heart. I know how important it is to be honest and real, authentic and true to yourself and to the work you do. I want to continue to share with you inspiring resources, classes and words to help keep you on your journey. A life you want to celebrate every day.
Oprah and many others (i.e., Michele Obama, Brene Brown, Hugh Jackman, Alicia Keys, Rod Stryker, Elena Brower, John Ledgend) inspire me to be my very best. We are all here on our own journeys and have something to contribute to others. I have learned you do not have to be on a big stage in front of thousands of people to make a difference. We make a difference in the lives of everyone we touch and in the communities we serve and live in. What a gift it is to take time to pause, reflect, and get clear on who we are and how we want to live our lives.
I ask you…
How do you find clarity in your intention? What practices will support you? What is your super power? How can you share it with the world?
Stay curious.
Get quiet.
Listen.
Trust.
Feel.
Believe.