Wednesday Wickedness - Oprah!

I recently found this great meme sponsored by Wednesday Wickedness. Each week, Janera posts quotes from a well-known celebrity, and then poses questions to the reader following the quotes. This week's meme posts quotes from Oprah Winfrey, actress, talk show host, producer and Queen. I hope you enjoy her quotes and my sometimes quirky responses!



1. “I don't think you ever stop giving. I really don't. I think it's an on-going process. And it's not just about being able to write a check. It's being able to touch somebody's life.” What was the last thing that you did to help somebody’s life?

I try to "pay it forward" whenever I can. I never remember what I've done, or for whom. I can barely remember where I set my coffee mug! There was something I did with a teacher at the school where I work about a year ago. One of our Volunteer Transfer Students wanted to try out for the high school freshman cheer squad, but had no transportation to, or home from, the practices. My friend and I made sure that she was at each and every practice, and that she had a ride home every evening. My teacher friend even fed her dinner! We were so excited when we found out that she had made the squad!


2. “Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” How long have you ever held your breath?

I am an ex-smoker...maybe five or 10 seconds! Actually, I used to practice all the time when I would have nightmares about drowning. I'd hold my breath until someone came to get me, or, since it was a dream, I would just started breathing under water.


3. “As you become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the first time around.” At what point do you think that you really decided who your were?

Truthfully, I still have not decided who I am, or want to be. Like many women, I wear various hats. There is no hat that I can wear for everything. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm probably schizophrenic. Besides, I hat hats because they always make my hair flat!


4. “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” At what time of the year do you think you celebrate your life the most?

I celebrate every time my husband goes out of town...or, when everyone in the house is asleep!


5. “So go ahead. Fall down. The world looks different from the ground.” Are there times when you thought you had fallen down and learned something about yourself?

Once I fell down while I was crossing a street in San Francisco. I had stepped in a small hole and lost my balance. Since that day, I always scrutinize the pavement upon which I walk so that I do not repeat this embarrassing dance. I was checking out the rock and cement pavement at an outdoor mall while shopping, and I found a broken broach on the ground. It looked like "dress-up" jewelry and I thought it was pretty. It turns out that the stones were real diamonds! I think that the metaphorical "falling down" teaches us that it's not the end of the world.


6. “Devote today to something so daring even you can’t believe you’re doing it.” What was the last thing you did where you thought that you could not believe in what you were doing?

I could not believe that I danced to "Soulja Boy"; I could not believe I was capable of birthing four children; I could not believe that I could write...and that what I wrote would be enjoyed by someone else.


7. “Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” Do you think that you must struggle to become strong?

I wouldn't say that I have to "struggle" to be strong. I would, however, say "work my plus-size butt off" to be strong. I think persistence at any level makes you strong.


8. “Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” Do you feel that life’s experiences always prepare you for what there is to come?

I believe that if you work hard, learn as much as you can, be in the right place at the right time, and know who to sleep with, you will be prepared for anything!


9. “The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” Can only a rich person feel this way? What do you think Oprah means by this?

Well, it certainly helps if you are a rich person. I think if you start with the small dreams...like..."I am going to try skim milk in my latte today." From there, you can take it to the next level by asserting yourself at the grocery store when you cut in front of someone in the self check out lane. Before you know it, you will be living the dream of driving the expensive car, moving into the corner office, or walking along a sandy beach with Brad Pitt. What? It could happen! Hey, it's my dream, so shut up!


10. “I do not believe in failure. It is not failure if you enjoyed the process.” Do you believe in failure?

I believe in failure, and I also believe in fairies. Failure can make you depressed; fairies can lift you up. Just like we can learn from our mistakes, I believe that we can learn from our failures if we make sure they don't repeat themselves. Since when would one enjoy the process of failing? The only enjoyment of any failure would be the wonderful foods I would eat after I had failed.

Thanks for hanging out with me for a few minutes. Please pop over to Wicked and say hello! Just click on the logo for Wednesday Wickedness below!





Have a great Wednesday!