I was watching me some Oprah the other day, because I can’t get over my love/hate relationship with her. I’m drawn to her show like a moth to the flame, while complaining the whole way, “You’re no Larry King. You talk over people and constantly repeat the last few words they say as if it makes it more profound.”
So why do I keep turning it on, you ask? Clearly I’ve been hypnotized by her amazing hair and that adorable Nate Berkus.
Back to the story. Recently Oprah has been doing some shows about living with less, and they have been fascinating. It seems as though people all over the country are being inspired to downsize their lives, their spending, and their strain on the planet. (And you should see Madame Oprah’s utter disdain at every example of her guests’ excessive ways.) It’s a timely subject for me. Nobody has become more keenly aware of how much less they could be living with than I. In fact, the next time I drive a car load full of stuff to the local thrift store, I swear they are going to say, “Lady, you don’t have to give it ALL away.” And I’ll be like, “Tip of the iceberg, guys. Tip of the iceberg.”
So I’m watching the show the other day and getting pretty annoyed with myself, examining all the ways in which I exploit this life of excess and I get stopped in my tracks because I have suddenly realized the most obvious irony—
Um, hey, Oprah? I can see you’re into this Living on Less Philosophy, and I’m just curious—did you come up with it in your Chicago penthouse, your Santa Barbara mansion, or your Hawaiian plantation vacation home? Were you nibbling on a snack prepared by your personal chef? Or did it come up in a discussion with your live-in personal trainer, Bob Greene? Was it an AHA! Moment when you were purchasing your bu-jillionth pair of Christian Louboutin, red-bottomed shoes? Or when you were switching from your Prada handbag to your Louis Vuitton?
Here’s the deal, O: Let’s all live on less. You first.
Love this post. I have the same love-hate relationship, but lately more hate than love. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see her scale back?!? Not likely, but it would be lovely.
Exactly how I feel about her, too. I Tivo her shows just to see if it is an interesting subject matter, but delete it most of the time. She is so vain and self absorbed! Let’s see her practice what she preaches.
Couldn’t.Agree.With.You.More.
That woman is the definition of excess!
I have that problem with so many celebrities trying to tell me how I should live my life, where I should spend my money and when I should turn off my lights. I’m all for living a little leaner and definitely much greener but I do not like the word being spread by people who don’t walk the talk.
Oh, and about Oprah specifically. I am not home when she is on but every so often I catch her on one of the off-hour showings (1 am or 6 pm or something) and I can’t get over the terrible episode I caught where she was berating some poor 30-year old girl for being single and telling her it is all her fault because she wasn’t “thinking more positively” or something. It made me angry. Which of course made me very negative. Which is probably why **I’m** still single. I guess it is Oprah’s fault I’m not married!
I hear you, and I completely agree. I also just watched that show over the weekend and I was in shock by all the waste of that first family. I feel that if you are in a position to raise awareness like she is, then at least she is using her show for good.
That’s funny. I can’t say I’ve ever really watched Oprah. But, when I hear about her giving away suff, I just picture her in a board room with her team of P.R. reps and accountants. They explain that instead of the Government taking millions in taxes, she can make lavish, public donations and write them off while bringing more attention, popularity, and advertising dollars to the show. It’s cool that she gives, it just seems to me that she benefits a lot from giving.
yeah, don’t like her either. I’ve noticed the irony for years & never turn her on. I like the whole ‘green’ campaign, but hope all the celebrities are practicing what they’re preaching.
this is why oprah is my arch nemesis.
I completely agree. Oprah bugs me so bad, but I can’t stop watching her.
I only have a one track mind since this past Wednesday, so my comment will reflect as such. I would guess the people of Peru would savor the smallest morsel of what we so easily take for granted. Sniff! Sniff! Oh I’ll be over it in about 2 YEARS!!!!!! I could only wish I had Oprah’s problems. I’m sure I would handle all the “billions” and “excess” in just the right way! Everyone would be happy I’m sure! Loved it Tifffany.
Hey, if Oprah starts scaling back, how can I find out which Thrift store she’s going to drive her donations to??
Nice job…It’s about time someone calls the big O on the carpet.
I don’t know how she manages with only three multi-million dollar homes and 2.5 billion dollars…
When I went on a cruise to Nassau (did I just say that? shame on me), we floated by Oprah’s guest house on Paradise Island. Whoa!