words to live by ... according to Oprah

Oprah Magazine November 2012

Yes, I subscribe to Oprah Magazine. I hadn't always, but there are few things worth reading in her magazine every month. I don't like any of her columnists: Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, Suze Orman. I never read the interviews Oprah writes ... too much Oprah, not enough interviewee. But I do enjoy reading Martha Beck's monthly 'life coach' article. I've actually used some of her advise. I purged a 'toxic' friend after reading her identification of one, and the reasons why one doesn't have to keep a friend who is toxic. The little column that the political analyst, Donna Brazile, writes is good. My favorite piece of advice that she wrote is taped to the wall in front of me:

1. Be the buffalo. 

Wilma Mankiller, the first female principal chief of the Cherokee nation, once told me how the cow runs away from the storm while the buffalo charges directly toward it—and gets through it quicker. Whenever I'm confronted with a tough challenge, I do not prolong the torment. I become the buffalo. 

Oprah also has great taste. I like to look at her favorite things ... they are usually pretty cool stuff.  Doesn't seem to be enough content to continue the subscription ... for the bits I like, it's enough.

It is hard to imagine being Oprah. The stress of being all, to all, must be exhausting. And when I got a look at her favorite quotes, which are shown above, I thought ... jeez, how can one person take ALL of this advice and incorporate into their little lives. I tried to narrow down to one ... and I thought, egads, I already put enough pressure on myself to 'live my best life,' how do I add this? Maybe if I break 'em down.

1. Jung: do I have a light kindled in the darkness of mere being? Am I just 'being?' That I consider this, then, YES! I am more than just being. I have a light, I turn it on. I also have storms, and those kind of come on too, but there is always light at the end of the storm ... or is that tunnel? OK, so what I have in me sometimes is a tornado, that sounds more accurate. And after that tunnel, oh yeah funnel cloud, goes through, there is light. Oh, it's close enough.

2. Epictetus: do what I have to do to be? I am. So I must have done the work to be it. I'm not going to say, oh! I want to be a ... pop star, let's get to work on that right away! No, but what I've become, I've definitely have put some work in it, purposefully and accidentally.

3. Quindlen: oh Anna Quindlen, you get a quote? Really?! Well, I have been told that I am too much myself. I'm just too 'Carol.' I've heard that only recently ... from a sister and a love interest. Well, who the heck am I supposed to be? Oh, I hold my imperfections close to me as they have been my good friends longer than most that I have had. I don't ever intend to be perfect.

4. Tolle: skip. He's a cult.

5. Wilde: now this is my guy! Improbable? Always! But wait, he says ... a 'little.' Yeah, I don't have that in me. As my brother once said about me, 'she's been livin' large since she was born.' He recognizes that in me, and by his pronouncement I understood that he's got my back. Good thing, not many can take ALWAYS improbable.

6. Angelou: no, I don't have anything to prove; except, it would be nice if more saw that what is my enough, isn't something to run away from. My enough can be a little overwhelming.

No sweat, I got this. I just had to consider it. Inspiration is in me. Thank you for reminding me.