Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

Before 2013 got away with me (how is the end of April upon us already?) I spent an evening with Oprah!

Yes, I saw Oprah!

I have wheeled to Harpo Studios when in Chicago for a conference.  My autobiography is one degree of separation from Lady O. And, I have even been interviewed by her (in my imagination).

On a fairly mild winter evening in January, I was finally at the same venue at the same time as Oprah (along with approximately 15,000 other fans).

What follows are a few of the many photos I took that night. They may not be the greatest photos, but they are mine, along with the memories from an opportunity I didn’t expect to get in Vancouver. I’m so glad I had saved my birthday money for something special. This evening definitely fit the bill.

Local billionaire Jimmy Pattison introduced Steadman Graham who then introduced his beloved, a surprise to her. Between Jimmy and Oprah, there was a fair chunk of change in the house that night!

(I dig the orange and purple combination and I’ve made a mental note to add some orange to my dress-up wardrobe.)

Oprah…!

In discussing the role of Sofia in the movie The Color Purple, Oprah shared how she had been obsessing about getting the role. The very moment that she surrendered and let it go, Steven Spielberg called to offer it to her. Surrender: a good lesson for all of us.

A few other life lessons she shared (from my notes deciphered three months later):

• Life is validated only in service of others. People want to know they matter and are heard.
• You become what you believe, which is the lens to how you see the world.
• Listen to that little voice when it says, “Hmm, that’s odd.” It will protect you.
• Showing gratitude positively changes the energy field around you.

After sharing her life story and the key lessons learned along the way, Canadian broadcast veteran George Stroumboulopoulos conducted a Q&A session with Oprah. On the issue of Lance Armstrong (likely forgotten news by now): “He will be forgiven because people, themselves, want to be forgiven… Now his real life’s work begins.” Enough said.

Listening to Oprah thread together defining experiences in her life on how a poor black girl from Mississippi became a multi-media mogul who transforms people’s lives was riveting, amazing and inspiring. Listening to her story gave me all of the more reason to believe that I, an individual with a physical disability and a significant speech impairment, can become a successful motivational speaker.

Lady Gaga’s The Edge of Glory blaring over the sound system as we left the arena further strengthen my drive to make my dream happen.

I’m on the edge of glory and I’m hangin’ on a moment of truth
Out on the edge of glory and I’m hangin’ on a moment with you

Thank you, Oprah, for a memorable and inspiring evening.