Oprah Winfrey

Rebecca Traister at the Los Angeles Times has been writing about the last shows from Oprah and I think she says it MUCH better than I. And as far as I remember, I agree with everything she's written.

These were my brief thoughts before the final episode:

Today, it ends. 25 years with Oprah Winfrey.
Thank you to Oprah for being an inspiration throughout the years.
From my vantage point, I've appreciated Oprah's honest journey through life. I'm fascinated by her drive and ambition. I'm interested by her acceptance of the wealth and power she's acquired through her television show. I'm happy for her relationships with Stedman and Gayle. I value the time she's given to her spiritual life, which helped my spiritual journey. It was through Oprah Winfrey that I became familiar with Eckhart Tolle's book A New Earth. I listened to Oprah and Eckhart discuss the book through ten weeks (in 2008?) and my world shifted.
I wasn't working when the Oprah show went national back in 1986 so I started with her. In this last year I've made it a point to watch all her shows. In between, I was an off and on viewer. Sometimes she spoke to me, and sometimes she didn't.
I gained a lot of respect for Oprah when she was contemplating how to proceed with the show during the time daytime talk was heading down a sleazy path - lurid stories about sad, misguided, and angry people. I remember Oprah talking about it at the beginning of a season and saying she only wanted to continue the show if she could use it to make the world a better place. She was taking a risk because she wasn't sure the viewers would follow her. She elevated herself; she chose light. I think that's when her influence and power started multiplying. I was proud of her.
Over the years I've been inspired by Oprah and many of her guests. I'm one of the people who laughed a lot when Oprah and Gayle went on their trips. That's what I'll miss.
I don't understand what it's like to be a person like Oprah, but I'm glad she's been a part of my life all these years.
Luckily, she's not going away. O Magazine and the OWN Network are still around for those much needed moments of inspiration.

Yesterday I watched part two of the celebration show and was moved to tears a couple times - her Morehouse men, and the young people (headed by Dakota Fanning).
Whatever Oprah has given me, I'm grateful she's helped thousands of people transform their lives.