OPRAH WINFREY the richest self-made woman in America, and the richest African-American of the 20th century, been rightly called "the most powerful woman in the world."

OPRAH WINFREY

the richest self-made woman in America, and the richest African-American of the 20th century, been rightly called

"the most powerful woman in the world."

"You are responsible for the energy you create for YOURSELF,

and the energy you bring to others.

Don't wait for somebody else to save you,

to complete you,

to fix you."

Oprah Winfrey has established one of the most innovative careers in the entertainment world, with distinctive accomplishments in television and film. Oprah Winfrey's story is truly a rag to riches experience. She was able to overcome a childhood of extreme poverty to build a fortune valued at over $2.5 billion dollars.

The business press measures her wealth in numerous superlatives: the highest-paid performer on television, the richest self-made woman in America, and the richest African-American of the 20th century.

 

More difficult to calculate is her profound influence over the way people around the world read, eat, exercise, feel and think about themselves and the world around them. The show's sucess made her the only black billionaire in the world. Known as an excellent communicator, her chat show was famous for celebrities baring their best kept secrets, and an inspiration for American women.  

She appears on every list of the world's leading opinion-makers, and has been rightly called "the most powerful woman in the world." Oprah, who in her 25 years on air has interviewed approximately 30,000 guests. In an interview on the Larry King program, she announced that in 2011 she would end her run on The Oprah Winfrey Show, after 24 seasons and over 5,000 broadcasts. 


She has since revealed plans to host a new program on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

"Nobody but you is responsible for your life," she said on more than one occasion. "It doesn't matter what your mama did, it doesn't matter what your daddy didn't do, it is your life. You're responsible for the energy that you create for yourself and you're responsible for the energy that you give to others.

"Don't wait for anyone else to fix you, save you or complete you,"

There is a difference between thinking you deserve to be happy and knowing you are worthy of happiness. The show's taught me you're worthy because you are born and because you are here. Your being alive makes worthiness your birth right. You alone are enough."

Oprah Winfrey makes her principal home on a 42-acre ocean-view estate in Montecito, California, just south of Santa Barbara, but also owns homes in another six states and the island of Antigua.

At the Farewell Spectacular, on Tuesday, in Chicago, the crowd gave Winfrey a standing ovation when she first walked on the stage and makes her 4,559th appearance on her show "For your love and your support, thank you", said Oprah. Harpo Productions received more than 154,000 ticket requests for seats to Tuesday's event. Tickets were free and distributed to fans through a lottery.

Pint-size opera singer and America's Got Talent runner-up Jackie Evancho walks on stage wearing ruby red slippers and singing the opening lines to "Over the Rainbow." as Winfrey sat in a white chair onstage.

•   Madonna told the crowd that she is among the millions of people who are inspired by Winfrey.  "She fights for things she believes in, even if it makes her unpopular," Madonna said.
•   Maria Shriver  told Winfrey that the talk show host has "given me love, support, wisdom and most of all the truth".
•   Grammy winner John Legend was beamed in from a school in New Orleans, and actress Dakota Fanning led a group of children talking about Winfrey's influence on their lives.
•   "You always had the power, and that is the message you brought into our lives," Cruise told Winfrey.
•   Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes and Diane Sawyer were there too. Beyonce sang her song Run the World (Girls) backed by dozens of dancers. "Oprah Winfrey because of you women everywhere have graduated to a new level of understanding of who we are, of what we are and most of all who we can be," Beyonce said before starting her performance.

More here : CTVNews, Sunday July. 10, 2011

Born to an unwed teenage mother, Oprah Winfrey spent her first years on her grandmother's farm in Kosciusko, Mississippi, while her mother looked for work in the North. Life on the farm was poor, but her grandmother taught her to read at an early age, and at age three Oprah was reciting poems and Bible verses in local churches. 

Despite the hardships of her physical environment, she enjoyed the loving support of her grandmother and the church community, who cherished her as a gifted child.

I've been journaling since I was 15. It's a wonder that I've managed to be a successful human being considering how pathetic I appeared in many of my daily musings. I used my journals as therapy.

In my 40s, I got wiser. I started using journals to express my gratitude—and watched my blessings multiply.

What you focus on expands.

More here.

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