"Oprah-itis" and the Vision Board

Did you ever notice that life is like a country music song? If you have a heart break or life crisis of some sort... the lyrics of every song you hear seems to have been written just for your own predicament? I am not sure if this phenomenon actually has a name....but in my case...instead of a country song... it is "Oprah-itis". I have been watching The Oprah Show ever since the very beginning in the 80's...WAY back when her hair and jewelry was HUGE...she wore obnoxiously bright neon 80's colors...and people could actually call in to the show to voice their opinions. Oprah always seemed to know what I needed to hear...and just in the nick of time. For example...one time when I was going through a life-altering-career- crushing crisis...I was miserable...and bitter...rage was eating me alive....and out of the blue...on my worst day ever...Oprah looked right at me and said "the disappointments in life are to make you better....not bitter (Oscar Wilde)". I shit you not...she looked directly through the camera ...pointed her finger at me and said this life altering statement to me. Then she went on to say that "resentment is like drinking the poison and expecting someone else to die from it." From that day forward I have stood taller and carried the mantra of "better not bitter" with me everywhere I go...saying it whenever I get ugly about something or someone. Fortunately, I did not know then that this crisis was the best thing that ever happened to me...as I had some life lessons to learn...but looking back on it now....I am so grateful I got screwed...otherwise I would currently be really screwed! As they say...everything happens for a reason...thank God! This quote of Oscar Wilde's...as quoted by Oprah... knocked me right off the pity party train...and although I was totally alone at the time...I said "Thanks O!" ...out loud.

Another day on Oprah, she featured how (and why) you should create a vision board for your life. A vision board is a poster/cork board on which you paste or collage images that you’ve torn out from various magazines in order to surround yourself with images of who you want to become, what you want to have, where you want to live, or where you want to vacation, and your life changes to match those images and those desires. The show featured celebrities and regular folk...explaining why their vision boards had what they had on them...and in the end...their visions (and dreams) eventually started to materialize. So, with the intent to make things happen...I have finally finished my vision board. I have had pictures cut out for this board for a long time...sitting in a Superstore bag on the floor...under my desk...not very easy too visualize the dreams I've selected for sure! So, I bought a big-ass cork board....some clear tacks...and I got rocking at it!

The good news is I am a big dreamer. The bad news is I am a big dreamer. Dreaming is good....but until you have focus to actually implement a plan....all you have is dreams....nothing tangible. I have a million ideas....and tons of stuff I want to do...so my head is always abuzz with activity....leaving me little to no time to focus or act upon these ideas...I think about the next ideas while trying to work on the current idea. (Have I confused you yet?) I want to write and publish a book. I want to deliver motivational seminars for women...I want to develop physical assessment seminars and mentor new nurses...I want to connect more with my girlfriends. I want to laugh more and worry less...I want to travel with my hubby more...and of course...the ultimate dream/reality... I will be on The Oprah Show! With those ideas in mind...I gathered my huge stack of magazines and started clipping away...with tunes blaring and wee sips of wine....and kaboom....out it came....my big-ass temporary cork-board masterpiece! It is a dynamic and fluid masterpiece...meaning it will change as ideas or pictures that strike my fancy arise. Thanks O!

Another inspirational day to get my board started surfaced day a couple of weeks ago. I was riddled with self doubt...disappointed that I was suffering from writers block...not getting stuff done that I needed to get done...making excuses...not writing as I had planned to...day dreaming too much...not getting where I need to go...and then I suddenly dropped something on the floor. As I bent over to pick it up...there was Oprah on the cover of her O magazine...smiling up at me...and the headline screamed at me "YOU'RE STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW!" Then, from there...I grabbed some more O Magazines and started snipping pictures and phrases....starting with the "YOU'RE STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW!" caption of course! Once again...I snapped out of my pity party frenzy and simply said "Thanks again Big-O!" (Obviously my idea of a BIG-O is different than most!)

My vision board started with a million dollar bill in the center. Years ago a girl friend gave me the million dollar bill in a money card for a birthday present. I am so glad that I kept it tucked away in my panty drawer all these years...because this simple item was the inspiration to get this whole vision board a rolling! I added tropical beach pictures and sea scapes with me and my baby walking the water lines...statements that say "Beach Within Reach"..."Paradise"..."Escape Completely"..."World Cruise"...and my favorite "Live Vicariously Through No One." I also added some sassy and confident bathing-suit-clad babes...and physically fit chicks climbing rocks, biking, swimming, golfing (sounds like a tampon commercial I know...but no white pants or horses for me thanks!). To remain focused to reach my weight loss goals for our cruise in January...I also added captions that read..."Live healthy"..."Get Fit"...and "There is no better time to be focused on you!". With all this in mind I also added some pictures of healthy foods...beautiful dream home decor pictures, my own private jet and one of my favorites is the image of the world in my hands!

Of course, my vision board had to have images of Oprah on it. Some of the most pertinent and important messages jumped at me right from the O magazine pages (no surprise I know)..."Live your best life"..."LIVE. RIGHT. NOW." I plan to be on her show...laugh hysterically and chit chat about my book...go out to dinner with her....I will give her an autographed copy of my book...some Canadian Maple Syrup....those cheesy Moose Poop chocolate candy gift bags found at the airport gift shops(a pun on Canadian-a)...she will laugh....and slap her knee...she will ask me "where have you been all my life?" and we will both crack up like fools! Oprah and I are going to have so much fun...just chillax and laugh like girl friends do...she will open my book to her favorite pages that have been marked with tiny 'Post It' stickers...she'll ask me to read some bits...she will glue the first Oprah's book club sticker on my book...I'll make Stedman blush while he cooks us dinner...Oprah will pee hysterically with laughter...we'll eat some awesome cheese and chocolate dipped strawberries.. and sip on our wine...we'll drink until we fall down laughing some more...exchange e mail addresses...send each other Christmas cards...you know how it will all go...and so do I now that my board is a reality.

I was so excited to step back and assess the vision board when it all came together. It is amazing what happens when you let your heart do the talking...I cut out random pictures and statements as they caught my attention...and in my humble opinion...my life blue print...is better than Picasso...to me that is...and only me. Thanks O!

“A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more.”-Rosabeth Moss Kanter quotes

Lynn
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