Oprah, Oprah, Oprah

I love Oprah. Absolutely adore her.
I admire her hard work. Her dedication. Her commitment. Her
tenacity. Her perseverance. Her spirit. Her courage.
There's something inside her that touches the hearts of man.
Her success stems from a strong sense of self, yet she has a
vulnerability that is honest and true.

Oprah was born in the poorest and most racist state in the nation,
Mississippi - my home state. She overcame sexual abuse and poverty
to become an international media mogul and major philanthropist.

Her accomplishments are immeasurable.
She has a talk show, radio show, magazine, a production
company (Harpo Films) and foundation. She builds neighborhoods (remember Hurricane
Katrina?), schools (South Africa Leadership Academy for Girls) and makes
books best-sellers just by mentioning them on her show.

She's an actress (The Color Purple, Women of Brewster Place, Beloved),
producer (The Great Debaters, Color Purple on Broadway) and the recipient
of a gazillion awards. For some, she's even a spiritual guide (The Church of O).

Oprah is a billionaire. She can buy anything she wants (fancy cars and diamond rings), go anywhere she wants, meet anyone she wants. In fact in 2009, she will launch her own network - OWN - The Oprah Winfrey Network.
Is there anything this lady can't do? I don't think so.

But with all that she has and all that she does, Oprah is not happy.
She's "disappointed in herself" for getting up to 200 pounds.
In the latest issue of O magazine, the mogul talks about her weight gain. Read the article here.
My heart warmed when she declared that her goal was no longer to be thin, but
to be healthy and strong. wow.

In the same article, however, she mentions her thyroid problem, high blood pressure and heart palpitations.
Hello???
Don't you think your body is telling you something honey? Slow Down !

I know Oprah does it all, but does she really need to do it all?

Oprah seems to fill her life with a lot of "stuff." She is always working on a project - and we are the better for it. She is an inspiration and a role model for all of us who want to "live our best lives."

But is all this "stuff" stressing her out? Is she trying to fill some emotional void in her life? Is she lonely? Depressed? Is she looking for something? Maybe love? acceptance? Why does she need to be busy all the time? Is she running from something?

I think Oprah is beautiful - inside and out. But as I learned from my own struggle with weight, she has to accept herself. Many times we wear the mask - pretend to the world that everything is okay, but deep down we're hurting.

What are your thoughts?