Myself along with fellow OWN Ambassadors had the pleasure and were so blessed to be invited to have lunch with Oprah while we were in Los Angeles for the OYOU conference. The moment plans started happening, I began my countdown. Excitement and joy welled up inside my soul and kept building as the days counted down on my blackberry countdown clock. (Yes, I had a countdown clock on my phone and told everyone as often as I could)
So many times I found myself asking out loud, 'Is this really happening? Who does this happen to?" Well, I can now say, it happens to someone like me! Believe in your dreams and dream big!!
During the lunch break of the OYOU conference (which I will blog about in LA2012 pt3) we were asked to all meet in a designated spot wearing our green OWN Ambassador bracelets and would then be escorted upstairs to a lovely room in the LA Convention Centre. We all were beside ourselves with Oprah bliss as we were lead to the room where IT was about to happen. I was about to meet Oprah.
For weeks, I was worried that I would have the same reaction as I did during Lifeclass here in Toronto this past April. When Oprah walked out on that Lifeclass stage, I wept with joy as this was the first time I saw her in person. This woman who over the years I've grown to respect. I seek out her advice and wisdom, knowing that she gets it. So, naturally you can imagine my terror of having that same reaction this time, and in such a smaller and much more intimate setting. For Lifeclass, I was in gigantic room with almost 8500 other people. For this intimate lunch, I would be in a much cozier room with my fellow Ambassadors, about 35 of us in total.
Walking into this room, with the large buffet type spread on the left hand side, we saw a few tables on the right side where we were encouraged to go to first and I realized they had everyone in a seating plan. Our amazing lovely ladies Maya and Jai from Harpo had seated all of the Canadian Ambassadors at one table which was wonderful!! After finding our table and probably pinching ourselves more then necessary, we noticed that each table had one empty seat at it. Hmmm, I wonder....
A beautiful lunch spread was put out before us, with delicious salads, tasty sandwiches and delectable desserts. And let me say right here, whoever made the heavenly mouthwatering pumpkin creme brulee...OMG, kudos my friend, well played!! That along with a few bites of some Greek salad was about all I could eat. Gayle King and Iyanla Vanzant popped in and were so wonderful. Chatting with us for a bit, thanking us for all of our support and love for OWN and of course Lady O herself! I could feel the anticipation building in the room. Each time the door would open, myself along with many others would catch our breath and look with expected excitement in the hopes to get the first glimpse of Oprah walking through those doors. Eric Logan also came in to chat with each of us as well. He is the President of OWN and what an amazing guy! So lovely to speak with and actually sat and chatted with us at the Canadian Ambassadors table.
Maya gave us a quick run down on how our time with Oprah was going to go. Oprah would come in, we would have the opportunity to get a picture taken with her by her very own photographer Geroge Burns. Then she would make her way to each table and have a sit down chat with us...hence the empty seat at each beautifully set rounded table.
This was it, it was really happening! My eyes began to well up with tears as it really started to become a reality to me. In just moments, Oprah was going to walk through that door. My mind raced back to her last episode of TOWS, where we can all remember her words to us. Her love letter to each of us over the last 25 years. In that show, amongst the countless bits of love and wisdom she bestowed upon us, she said...
"To those of you whose names I'll never know, I learned what love is."
Listening to those words from her, standing on that stage welling up with emotion herself in that gorgeous L'Wren Scott dress, I thought that I would be one of those millions whose names she would never know. I always knew that I would meet her one day but never to the magnitude that I am meeting her now. As my reality came back down to my table, and literally moments before she walked into the room, a peace came over me. Although emotional and with tears in my eyes, I was at peace because I knew that this was exactly how it was suppose to be. I was meant to be here in this moment, in this time. I was meant to be part of this group, we were all meant to be here as light carriers for this was already done. This was already orchestrated behind the scenes and we were just now seeing the script of this chapter in our lives.
Then, as the door opened and chills raced up and down my arms, Oprah walked in. There she was! Right before me, smiling at all of us!! Instant applause erupted from the room and we all cheered for our fearless life teacher who stood before us!
What happened in the next few minutes gave me an incredible full circle moment that I will carry in my heart for the rest of my days. They had us do the pictures first, so table by table went up and got in line to await our picture moment with Oprah. With each snap of the camera, I got closer and closer to her, anticipating what I would say or would she say anything to me? I was almost patting myself on the back because I was keeping my cool. Oh yah, I can do this. I can walk up to Oprah Winfrey and snap a fabulous picture with her. Of course! Well, as my moment got closer and closer, I felt my palms getting sweaty. Then I frantically wiped them down my pant leg....I'm pretty sure the last thing Oprah wants to feel are my sweaty hands! *SNAP* That was the camera again and it was now my turn to walk up to her. As I took my steps towards her, she looked at me and said 'Misty! Mistys OWN!' (which is my twitter name) Wait a minute...she just said my name, at least I think that's my name. Is my name Misty? My knees began to feel a little weak and I recall praying to God right then and there. 'God, please do not let me fall at this woman's feet!' She knew my name! I'm not one of those whose name she'll never know. She knows it! She knows me! As I reached her, I gave her a hug and then turned for our picture. I think George snapped a few pictures and then I was on my way and the person behind me was about to have their Oprah moment. Walking back to my seat, I remember just repeating to myself, she knew me, she knew me!
As I watched each person after me get their pictures taken with Oprah, the pure joy rising on each of their faces was truly a sight to see. The sparkle on all of our faces really could have lit the entire LA Convention Centre, of this I have no doubt!
After the pictures were finished being snapped, Oprah said a few words to us as a group before going around to each table. She graciously thanked us for our love and support of her and OWN, for standing by her from day one as she has tried to make this amazing network something with sustenance for the soul. She called us her light carriers. Ok, I'm good with that!!
As she went around to each table, talking and laughing with her light carriers, we got wind that Entertainment Tonight and Nancy O'Dell were just outside and wanted to pop in. LOL, are you kidding me? Sure, come on in Nancy! WOW!
Although quite blurry, this is me in the upper right corner in the yellow top. And this was a clip they showed on Entertainment Tonight! Nancy O'Dell came into the room with the ET cameras and had a quick chat with Oprah, before they were to meet after to have an interview. Quite a few Ambassadors were shot and shown on ET and we all were just tickled pink by it! But the biggest highlight of that little bonus with ET showing up?? It was that Oprah was able to tell her and show some of the faithful and loving supporters of OWN. I was really moved by the fact that the Oprah was talking to Nancy and ET about us, the OWN Ambassadors, her light carriers!
After ET left, Oprah continued on to each table, making her way to ours. 'CANADA' she says! 'I LOVE CANADA!!' Standing beside me, with a tap on my shoulder and a squeeze, she chatted with us and laughed along. How awesome were these moments?!?! She was so gracious and so amazing, putting each person at ease. After her table chats, she had to leave us for her interview with ET and then for the closing of the OYOU conference. She affectionately thanked us again and left the room. Yes, I had to tell myself more than once, that DID just happen!
I tried to take each moment in, soaking it up as to not take even a second of it for granted. I am truly blessed to have been present for all of this! The one person who I have dreamed of meeting my entire life, I just did! This girl from Niagara Falls Canada, who spent many years telling herself that she wasn't enough, and didn't deserve the happiness she so craved deep inside, that girl is now this woman who is writing these words, knowing that I AM enough, and I deserve more than happiness, I deserve all the joy rising up in my soul. I learned this partly because of Oprah. She taught me that I am worthy, that I'm deserving of my own love first and foremost! Countless life lessons I have attained from Oprah and for that I am forever grateful.
This was my first Oprah moment, but I can promise you this, it won't be my last! The awesomeness has just started and I can't wait to see what's coming next!
Thanks for tuning in everyone! Stay tuned for LA2012 Pt 3 coming to a screen near you very soon! so much more happened at the OYOU Conference, so many other great lessons from some fantastic teachers! Can't wait to tell you all about it!
Sending love out to all,
Misty
xo
