This morning I was riding my bike, wind in my hair (ok, through the vents in my helmet)...thinking about how lucky I am to be an anonymous human being with freedom to enjoy the outdoors, the city, my local coffee shop. I know many of us think Oprah is way out of touch with the Average Jane because of her infinite wealth. But, it also dawned on me that she's also probably unable to truly relate to our lives because she can't even step out of her front door into public. How could she understand what we go through, trying to decide whether or not to purchase eggs at the grocery store because they're so crazily expensive now, when she probably hasn't pushed a cart down the aisles for years. (I assume she doesn't even know how icky it is to put our hands on those germ-filled carts! Thank you Purell!) We all know money, power and fame don't buy happiness, but I'm starting to think they might also restrict the freedoms that most of us enjoy on a daily basis. So, yeah, yeah, Oprah's got a gazillion acres of land and more homes than my whole family put together - but where else can she go for a walk?
And regarding her seeming inability to stay out of the spotlight when out in public, I was surprised I didn't see her at the Democratic National Convention last night. It was confirmed (by Gayle King, no less!) that Oprah would be there, but I never saw a shot of her. Maybe she used her power over the universe to shift space and time in order to render herself invisible to the naked eye. Yes, yes, that must be it.
I was excited to learn, via a promo for next week's programming, that Elizabeth Gilbert will be there, discussing Eat Pray Love. I read the book, as Oprah advised, so I'm thrilled to hear what the author has to say. And speaking of upcoming Oprah shows...new episodes begin September 8th. That was enough to get me through my gazillionth viewing of today's followup show of past stories. A rerun of a followup. My eyes almost rolled back into my head. I need more excitement to distract me from my Best Life Exercise.
I guess that wraps up the week. Today's episode was pre-empted for about 10 minutes to discuss McCain's choice of an unknown, female Alaskan governor as his VP pick. I'll have to watch those 10 minutes tonight when Oprah re-airs. This makes me really annoyed at John McCain.
I'll be reading September's O Magazine this weekend and will check in on Monday. It has a giant headline that reads "Too busy to live?" Maybe it'll contain some answers on how to organize your time when you're living your entire life according to its founder and editorial director. I'll check out the table of contents.
Have a great weekend!
Best,
LO
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29 comments:
"Maybe it'll contain some answers on how to organize your time when you're living your entire life according to its founder and editorial director." - Hahaha! Somehow I doubt that article will be in there, but I'd love to see it! Maybe YOU should write it. =)
And I LOVED Eat, Pray, Love. Got me reading again after having two babies dramatically decreased my free time. I'll have to check out that episode!
LivO Oprah goes for walks all the time. Just a few weeks ago she was seen at a Walmart so I seriously doubt she feels at all restricted by her fame. In fact I remember years ago Oprah arguing with a woman in her audience about Elvis. The woman was saying that Elvis was so famous he could not even go to a 7/11. Oprah replied by saying that she goes to the 7/11 all the time and that Elvis could have done the same. Oprah said it's all about how you handle your fame. If your so exclusive that you have to be reclusive then that is how the public will treat you, but if you act like an everyday Jane, then the public will treat you like one of them. In fact Oprah was once at a restaraunt where Elizabeth Taylor walked in and people ran up to Oprah to tell Oprah Taylor was in the restaraunt. Talylor was viewed as the celebity and Oprah was seen as one of the people there to enjoy the star gazing with them.
I personally would love it if everywhere I went people knew who I was and wanted to talk to me. I thing it would be one big party. It may not be what you want, but Oprah had an extremely lonely childhood which caused her to crave the attention fame brings and enjoy every minute of it. And if Oprah ever wants to be anonymous all she has to do is leave North America. She can go for months in other continents without anyone even recognizing her. This is what Carson would do when he wanted to escape fame. Also the community Oprah lives in in California is full of celebrities so no one makes a big deal out of her there and she regularly goes for hikes in the mountains with her neighbours.
Are you sure money doesn't buy happiness? Happiness is when you have all that you want, and since virtually everything in our world is for sale, I think it's difficult to achieve the highest level of happiness without extreme wealth. How can you be truley happy knowing you don't have the freedom to quit your job? How can you be really happy when you have to sit in an uncomfortable airplane and wait in line for hours instead of just hopping in your private jet? How can you be really happy unless you live in a mansion with a view of the oceans and mountains. How can you be really happy without a personal chef to cook you anything you want at the drop of a hat? How can you be really happy without the financial power to perform large scale expirements researching the questions that stimulate your intellect? How can you be really happy knowing you lack the financial power to retire your parents to a mansion by the ocean, lack the financial power to give millions to those who need it the most? How can you be really happy when you lack the financial power to make your voice heard to millions of others? How can you be really happy without the financial power (through fashion or medical procedures) to look your best? I know that may sound kind of shallow, but I'm just trying to keep it real.
I am reminded of a show a few years ago when Oprah went to Costco. She was unfamiliar with the cart, had never been to the store, and was a bit confused (although perennially cheerful) about how to pay with her guest membership card. (I also noticed that she had about 4 employees helping her, which must change the Costco experience a bit!) It was a hoot.
She has also said how on weekends in Chicago she will go out in jeans without makeup and her hair in pigtails, and store proprietors will watch her as though she might steal something, so there is that.
I live in Maui where Oprah has a house and some property here and there. There is a story of her shopping for her house, and finding one she liked beachfront. She noticed that some people were walking across the beach with a picnic basket. The agent explained that all of the beaches in Hawaii are public*, and that "her" beach would be open to the public. She sighed and said then she could not have beachfront property since she would be constantly mobbed and stalked. Having read a few of the discussion groups on her website, I'd be unnerved by those folks, too. So she got an old, remote farmhouse on the mountainside, and lots of land so she can walk unseen and undisturbed. So even with more money than God, she can't have a beachfront house and enjoy her solitude, or apparently, even walk on the beach.
She does turn up now and then at various restaurants (not the ones frequented by tourists), and from what I have heard, other than a slight buzz, no one reacts much.
(*One beach is private. It was given as a gift by King Kalakaua to one of his subjects. Happily, it is in the middle of a lava flow and pretty inaccessible, so the rest of us don't feel too deprived.)
I'm sure Oprah can walk on a public beach, but having her actual home on a public beach wouldn't make much sense since she'd never get any privacy. I wouldn't want to live on a public beach either, but there are plenty of private beaches celebrities can live on, and keep in mind that it's only in North America that Oprah is a mega-superstar. In Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa she attracts little attention & could easily live on a public beach in any of those continents. I also think that if Oprah were to quit her show she would rapidly start attracting much less attention. That's what happened when Rosie O'Donnel quit her show. After a year or so she found she could go shopping anywhere in America without anyone making a fuss. The public has a very short memory and they're constantly moving on to the next big thing. If Oprah didn't enjoy the attention I don't think she'd keep putting herself in the public eye.
I am reminded of moments from her "Road Trip w/Gayle" espisodes. During one she was at a gas station and commented that she had not filled up her own car since 1986. Another time she goes to a VERY luxurious hotel -- one already out of price range for most of us -- then is fascinated and perplexed because she decided to do what us "average" folk do by actually CHECKING IN at the front desk instead of being whisked up to her deluxe suite (which is where she stayed) via private entrance. Imagine! Having to actually walk in the front door like the rest of the unwashed masses!
Another time she made a detour to a linen store to buy million-thread count sheets because she couldn't stand the sheets in roadside motels.
Isn't that the way we ALL take road trips? Oh -- wait -- most of us can't AFFORD road trips because of the gas!
She may schlump it to the 7-11 once in a while, but she DEFINITELY lives in a different world.
Come to think of it Oprah's house in California has a spectacular view of both the oceans and the mountains though I don't know if it's a public beach. The house has been described as the most incredible house in America, even better than the whitehouse.
I see your point about Oprah being out of her element on that road trip but just the fact that she was able to take it shows how normal her life is. But I agree she has become a little pampered since becoming a billionaire.
On the other hand did you see the show where Oprah and Gayle joined a bunch of strangers to recreate life in the 1600s. Oprah went a whole weekend with no panties, no makeup, no toilet paper except for leaves, and was able to chop wood and milk cows with the best of them. Keep in mind that Oprah started her life in extreme poverty, so when push comes to shove she can rough it.
@morepower "Are you sure money doesn't buy happiness? Happiness is when you have all that you want..."
Woah there, Sparky! My happiness doesn't hinge on how long I have to wait in an airport line, or the fact that I don't live in a mansion, or the fact that my husband and I make our own meals or the fact that I can't afford (but wouldn't want) expensive cosmetic surgeries. My happiness has everything to do with my husband and our kids and making a wonderful life with our family. Many years ago we had almost no money and now we have plenty, but I'm not happier because of all the things we have acquired. I believe very much that money doesn't buy happiness - it just accentuates who you are and the people around you.
Sure, life might be easier when you have someone to do your shopping and cooking and all that, but you can be just as unhappy rich as poor. Especially if your happiness has to do with your relationships and values and family and not with property and whether you have to run your own errands.
(On a side note, I actually LIKE going to the grocery store with my kids and watching them freak out over all the different veggies in the produce aisle.)
I, too, thought of the Costco episode, but what I remember most of that were the "samples" she was given--whole slices of cake for instance. The samples for the masses are little spoonfuls of whatever Costco is marketing. (Not that I mind; I don't need any more calories during my Costco shopping.) But the episode made it look like O's samples were the norm.
Morepower, Oprah cant hide in Europe. I live in Sweden, she is widely famous in borth Scandinavia and other European countries as well, I am sure. You´ve got an odd view on happiness, are you joking?
But I do think Oprah is happy, not because of her wealth though, but her seeking and her spiritual growth. I think she is brave, streching christianity as long as she have, in USA I guess that is more controversial than here. And I like the distinction between religion and spirituality by ... dont remember who: but spirituality is the seeking, religion is seen as the answer. I just hope the Oprah show start to give too many answers, to make it into an "oprahligion". I like Eat pray love too, beautiful book.
Norwegian girl
Oprah was at the DNC. Here's a link to a short interview after Obama's speech from ET.
http://www.stereohyped.com/black-hollywood-meets-for-speech-in-denver-20080829/
I barely made myself read a chapter of Eat, Pray, Love. It seemed a fake because she had pitched her journey ahead of time and was writing the book all along. Loses a little of the "aha" discovery when you know it was on purpose - places she went.
Well Kate, anyone who thinks that money doesn't buy happiness, just doesn't know where to shop. I am much happier now that I have the money to live in a nice big comfortable house with a cleaning lady to keep it clean and keep my sheets nice and fresh. Much happier with a huge big screen TV on which to watch all the channels in the world all cozy inside against a snow storm outside. Much happier with my big ol' bed and high thread count sheet and gigantic expensive pillow case. Much happier now that I had the ultra expensive treatment to look ten years younger nad have people tell me how wonderful I look everywhere I go allowing me to enjoy relationships of unlimited intimacy. Everything you could possibly want is for sale in this world if you're rich and creative enough to find away to buy it including love and the family of your dreams. Never underestimate the power of money, kid.
Oprah can indeed hide in Europe. In Paris they had know idea who she was. I travel all around the world and many people don't know who she is. Even in South Africa the people were saying "you're from America? Do you know Britney Spears? Do you know Larry King?" People may still know her, but she doesn't create massive buzz.
Yes Oprah is extremely happy according to a happiness expert who administered a test of happiness to her. She should be happy. She has piles of money, enormous influence, millions of screaming fans, three hundred African daughters who love her, a 6'6" boyfriend, and the best friend in the whole world Gayle King.
I agree that there are a lot of very rich people who are not happy, but these people would be even less happy without the money.
I'm kinda confused about this "morepower" person's comments -- are they for real?
Being rich/famous/recognizable would have it's plusses and minuses, just like everything else. When it comes down to it, we all have to learn to balance the plusses and minuses of our own situation and create an individual equilibrium.
My mother is a devoted member of the Church of Oprah, but even she was put off by some of Oprah's spoiled behavior on the road trip. My mom always explains things she doesn't like about Oprah as being a result of never having children. "If she had children, she would better understand that."
LO -- Maybe people become Too Busy to Live when they try to live as Oprah advises!
abby tell your mother that Oprah does have children. Three hundred of them. She considers the girls at her school to be her daughters.
I'm just pondering what Oprah might be doing in a 7-11. Does she have secret Slurpee addiction?
My sister had heard you talk on NPR and told me about your experiment of living Oprah for one year.
I've just started going through your past entries, but have to comment on your entry today.
Although it would be great to have Oprah's money (who am I kidding, even a small percentage would be great being unemployed), I don't know if I'd enjoyed being recognized everywhere. No freedom to go into any store, or movie without possibly being mobbed.
I think that is the part of life that is taken too much for granted.
I look forward to reading your entire blog - this is definitely a very cool experiment.
Joan
I am pretty sure that "morepower" is an employee of Oprah and needs to try and debunk what is being proved on this blog.
I am really enjoying this experiment and have been reading your archieves.
Have fun reading the mag!
John McCain's people should realize that you can't get women to vote for him if you interupt Oprah. D'uh.
I took the time to go back to the beginning and read your whole blog. Hokey Smokes Bullwinkle! Best read I've had in a while. Your insight is amazing. Your writing is so easy to read and engaging. I'm hooked.
Abby, I've said the same thing that your mother says! And, Oprah doesn't really "have" those school children in Africa. It's not nearly the same as raising children in your own home, being responsible for their every bite of food, every comfort, every piece of education. If Oprah had children, she would have been so grateful for the opportunity to be alone with Gayle during that road trip she could have slept on the ground and it would have felt like million-thread-count sheets! Just the luxury of being in the bathroom with nobody trying to talk to you through the door!
About gratitude. The ups and downs of life teach us to be grateful in so many ways. I've been broke. I've been financially ok. I've never been rich. I know if I was, I would be so grateful just to pay my bills and help other people out I would be smiling all day long. I would probably pre-clean my house for the cleaning lady, though.
Anonymous I'm not an employee of anyone. I just disagree with the politically correct feel-good propaganda that money doesn't buy happiness. It makes no sense when one considers the millions of advantages that come with wealth.
Now I do agree that their disadvantages to being superfamous, but I see almost no downside to being superrich.
Oprah was at the convention, but I didn't see her either. I know she was there because Megyn Kelly (the pretty blond from FOX news) told me so, and said that Oprah was wearing diamond sun glasses, and commented about how great it was to be there.
morepower, it seems like your idea of happiness is rooted in comparing what you have to what others have and as long as you have more, you think you're happier. would you be unhappy if flat screen TVs didn't exist? or if there were no such thing as luxury linens? hmm...
My idea of happiness is having comfort and fufillment in all aspects of my existence. So I was happier when I got air conditioning than I was when my family and I had to perspire in my home. I was happier when I had a nice guest room with a balcony overlloking the water for my mother to stay in when she visisted. It made her happier which makes me happy. I'm talking real solutions to the problems of everyday life. I think having a nice view is essential to happiness at the highest levels. I love a nice balcony where I get watch the sun rise and the sun set every day with a nice cup of tea in hand.
Now there are limits to how much happiness money can buy. No amount of money can buy happiness if you suffer from a serious disease (though if you can afford better health care, that does make life easier). No amount of money can make you happy if you suffer from clinical depression (though it can provide you the best doctors and drugs). I wouldn't say I'd be unhappy if I lost my huge TV and big comfy bed, but I would be less happy than I am now.
Hi LO,
Do you also read O at Home or are you just reading the monthly O magazine? I'm curious whether you sense a difference in tone between the magazines and the show. I find it hard to sit through an hour of the show, but I really love O, and sometimes O at Home.
kate - yeah, i doubt it too :) that's great to hear about Eat Pray Love! hope you get to see the episode. hellooo to your babies!
morepower - i hope you get everything you want in life.
anon - too funny. in chicago, she doesn't really go out - a local paper has actually written about this - we never see her. i'm interested she's out and about in maui.
anon - oh that road trip. i almost felt like her trip thru regular-old-america was a trip to mars. something seemed so odd and amazing to her that are everyday experienced for us. (omg - that trip to buy sheets was unbelievable)
kate - i love the image of you and your kids. that is too sweet. i enjoyed reading this comment a lot.
dawn-michelle - i've never seen a full piece of anything given away in costco! that's great.
Norwegian girl - what you've said is very important, i think. it's one of the reasons i'm doing this project...i actually do have some concern that her advice has moved from a place of simple inspiration to one of dogma.
anon - thank you so much for the link!
anniegirl1138 - did you see the show at all?
abby - fascinating about your mom's thoughts on oprah/kids. does she ever pass oprah's advice on to you?
anon - yeah - i think i might have a specialized niche when it comes to why i'm stressed! :)
jeri - i've never been into a 7-eleven without super sticky floors. i wonder if oprah can wear her christian louboutin's when she gets her slurpee!
joan/little miss blogger - please thank your sister for me! :) i have had a teenie-tiny-eensie-weensie insight into being recognized. here in chicago, i've been asked a couple times "are you the Oprah Lady?" when i've been out to eat. personally, it made me uncomfortable, because suddenly i didn't feel as if i had privacy...i felt slightly trapped and worried if i looked ok, did i say anything anyone overheard?, was i being judged. it was odd. nothing compared to what oprah would experience, but uncomfortable nonetheless!
anon - too funny. my mom wondered the same thing.
marzipan - gracias!
american girl - this made me laugh out loud in public! xo
amy - oh good! yeah! welcome and please do comment whenever it strikes you.
paula - we are totally on the same page. once, a great friend gave my husband and i the gift of having a cleaning service come over to do our house before a big party we were throwing. jim and i TOTALLY cleaned the place up before they came.
anon - ah yes, the diamond sunglasses. thanks for passing on the personal story! much appreciated.
Kayleigh ShoenTell - i was just reading O. do you subscribe? i've got a couple O at Homes...was considering ordering back copies to make sure i've left no stone unturned!
xoLO
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