By Elizabeth Moran, Girls Can Do Program Manager ::
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service.”
That was just one of the quotes I walked away with from Oprah’s The Life You Want Tour weekend. Section 101, row 12, seat 15. That was my seat for two days at the Key Arena in Seattle, thanks to Girls Can Do partner Step Up Women’s Network who sent us tickets.
Ashley, Me, my mom, and my aunt
Friday night, my mom and my aunt sat to my right, and my 13-year-old daughter Ashley sat to my left. I was literally sandwiched in love, listening to stories about love, and loving those around me. It was one of those “this is really cool” moments.
We danced! I really believe that everybody wants to stand up at his or her seat and dance like nobody is watching. Apparently, I don’t stand alone in that thinking because 10,000 people were dancing in their seats last Friday night. I had chills and Oprah hadn’t even come out on the stage.
And then she walked out. Oh my goodness! I had tears in my eyes and hair standing up on my face (which, I didn’t know I had until that very moment). It was Oprah! She has been in my living room more than most of my family and friends, and let me just say she owns her own quote, “Be responsible for the energy you bring into the room.” The entire room was electric.
Oprah talked for two hours straight, and I found myself feeling like I was sitting at my dinner table with family and friends talking about life. She told stories that captivated the audience and said things like, “I am the master of my fate and captain of my soul.” The crazy thing is, when Oprah says it, you believe it. Hell yes I’m the captain of my soul!
Day two, Oprah invited a team of trailblazers to share with us their views on living the life you want. I switched out the seat to my left and brought my 16-year-old stepdaughter Peyton. What a gift it was for me to sit next to a young adult that I love and watch her write out her vision of the life she wants. Quoting trailblazer Iyanla Vanzant, “The life you want is on the other side of the labor pains it takes to birth it.” So true! The message of the weekend was very simple.
You can have whatever life you want for yourself, you just have to create it and go after it.
I think Oprah said it best, “The only courage you ever need is the courage to live the life you want.” I left Oprah’s The Life You Want weekend with a sparkly light bracelet. It is a perfect metaphor for the new light in my life. Namaste.
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