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Oprah Winfrey may have announced the end of her long-running talk show last month, but one of its recent guests inspired her to get a new lease on life."If living your best life were a test, I would not get a passing grade for 2009," the media queen confessed in the January 2010 edition of O: The Oprah Magazine. "All the things I vowed to do this time last year, I didn't. I didn't give myself more balance or more time. I failed."
According to Winfrey, it wasn't until she came face to face with Charla Nash, the Connecticut woman who was savagely attacked by her friend's 200-pound pet chimpanzee, last February that she became inspired.
"If this woman, whose world was shattered beyond imagination, can push herself to a stronger and better life, anyone can," she wrote in her "What I Know for Sure" monthly editorial.
Nash has been recovering at the Cleveland Clinic. She reportedly underwent more than seven hours of surgery on her face and hands by four teams of surgeons. Paramedics noted she lost her hands, nose, eyes, lips, mid-face bone structure and received significant brain-tissue injuries. She granted an exclusive interview with Winfrey on her 56th birthday in November in what was originally supposed to be a satellite interview.
"I traveled to see her in person. ... I thought we'd have a better connection sitting together than meeting via television screen," she revealed."I must admit that I walked in preparing to see horror. And it was a shock, at first, when she took off the veil," Winfrey noted. "But after being with Charla just a short while, I was no longer focused on her devastating scars. Instead, I saw her. Her resilience, her grace, her determination, her will to get better."
"As for me," she concluded, " I'm starting over. No excuses."
Comments: (42)
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By: Kat on 12/31/2009 10:29PM
are you kidding Monopoly? I dare you to do 1/10000000th of what Oprah has done in her lifetime.. I dare you give give just an inch of yours. She didn't exploit this woman! She let the world know that this woman was still human, that life goes on! she taught others to still continue to live! Are you jealous that Oprah has crossed a line that you have yet to Fathom of ever crossing? You have to be a mindless person without a thought of dreaming BIG to make Mind Numbing comments as such as you have in this post. Thank Goodness you didn't put your real name to embarass yourself. I'd suggest you get on the bandwagon, contribute something Greatness and worthy of a Legacy to Society then Talk about Oprah Winfrey. No I am not her Shadow but It amazes me when people sit and watch others do.. yet those who talk do absolutely nothing except sit behind a computer screen and watch things happen instead of making them happen on their own. One thing We all know for sure.. There will be a handful of People who will remember YOU when you're gone.. The World will remember OPRAH.. for what ?? Well for whatever it is.. She's been Greatness like it or not! Sorry you weren't apart of her Christmas give-away!
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By: Susanne, Signal Hill on 1/01/2010 2:54PM
I must say that I was shocked to read monopoly's comments. What happened in your life to make you so bitter? I can't imagine that in your small, empty environment you ever been in direct contact with Oprah. For that you would have to have made some kind of impact on the world. Yet you have chosen to sit on your "hands", do nothing and criticize one of the greatest spirits of modern times. And just for clarification, I am not Gayle King using an anonimous i.d.
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By: milkmoney on 1/02/2010 1:01PM
Why do you silly women worship at the alter of Oprah? Whats even more sad is your lack of respect and absolute hatred for people who don't like her. I hate to break the news to you but, there are alot of people that don't like her; not because of her race or weight or her wealth. Shes just an egomaniac that can't see past her own nose. I applaud her charity work, but you can't ignore the fact that she does it for the cameras and publcity. Her entire exsistance plays like a soap opera, and people like you can't wait to tune in. And I agree with what "Monopoly" said; she did exploit that woman!
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By: Susanne on 1/02/2010 11:16PM
To milkmoney: Let me be very clear; I worship no one but my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I also choose not to waste my energy practicing the non-productive action of hating anyone. I admire Oprah and any other person who has had the drive and perserverence to rise above circumstances that very well could have devoured them. So to you I say spend your life doing something positive, not hating people who have not done anything to you.
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By: Lanette on 1/03/2010 9:44PM
hate on hater..
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By: deidrapn on 1/04/2010 10:49AM
Oprah has done a great job of exposing the world to everything from devastating events(like the Charla Nash attack)to current events to new products. Charla's story was inspiring because of her determination to live and thrive. Sometimes we have too many self-made obstacles to achieve what should be attainable goals. When you see a woman with her face torn off continuing to live life, it puts things in perspective.
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By: Dionna88 on 1/04/2010 10:16PM
Oprah Whinfrey didn't exploit Charla Nash. Charla Nash suffered a tragedy.America felt her pain.Like myself, people wanted to know whatever happened to the woman who was attacked by that chimpanzee.If you think with Nash showing her face on TV(which was Nash's choice)was exploitation,then you sound weak and narrow minded to me. I think Nash was courageous, honest and truthful for showing her face.Besides it's not over for her.Dr's and surgeons are still working to reconstruct her face.And even if it there was nothing more that could be done, Charla Nash sounds as though she has come to accept her loss.NOW U DEAL WITH IT.
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By: H8tinH8ters on 1/05/2010 8:08AM
Normal People.....First...let's look at the names of the H8ters: "Monopoly" and "Milkmoney" Seriously now, do you REALLY think either of these individuals has EVER done anything in their lives that could be considered "significant" How then can they appreciate what Oprah does? How can they understand the BIG picture of the Charla Nash interview. The "capacity" to do so is simply NOT there. Poor "mono" thinks it was "exploitation" and the "milkmonkey" thinks its "praise to Oprah" They were NOT inspired by the story and I bet - a million dollars to a doughnut - that their daily lives are a reflection of that LACK OF INSPRIRATION. To: Milkmonkey and Mono.... I understand... Go H8ters... Stay busy!
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By: Assheliveson on 1/05/2010 4:48PM
I won't deny that Oprah does have an ego. We all do but I don't think one gets to her level in life not being confident, focused and blessed.
It's funny how it was the media who accused Oprah of exploiting the woman and at the same time tried to gain some attention from what they were accusing her of doing. A week later The Today Show had the woman on and you could practically see her face through the veil. Funny that the same people who was accusing Oprah of exploiting this woman by having her unmask turned around and did it themselves without as much as an apology.
There seems to be a seriours desdain coming from the media towards anyone who is too successful for them. I'm sure they're searching high and low for something serious to happen to Oprah so they can use it tear her down like they did to Tiger. But, Oprah is way to smart for them and she is very much aware of the media's game, so she knows how to handle her sh*t.
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By: Israeline on 1/05/2010 10:09AM
All of God's people KNOW that everything works together for good for those who LOVE God's Kingdom and particularly those who are called according to God Almighty's purpose. I LOVE YOU OPRAH AND ALL GOD'S PEOPLE. IN 2010 I PRAY WE THRIVE IN LOVE, LIFE, TRUTH, PEACE, KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING, otherwise we who love the one and only true and living God Almighty will continue to pray for our enemies so that if WE THE PEOPLE do not change our evil ways and thoughts WE will heap a coal of fire upon our own heads. Being in the FIRE is not nice if we do not have the ALMIGHTY with us! FEAR NO EVIL!
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