In the final weeks of the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2011, Oprah stated several times that she always wanted to be a teacher. At the time, I wondered why she didn't realize she IS a teacher. A formal teaching certificate is not necessarily the measure of a teacher. Because I'm usually parked in front of my computer, when I heard her say it a second time I opened a new Word document and wrote the following:
An Ode to Oprah
Those who give of themselves, teach.
Those who praise the smallest effort, teach.
Those who encourage someone to make an effort, teach.
Those who promote learning to effect change, teach.
Those who introduce new opportunities for personal growth, teach.
Those who expose themselves to ridicule in an effort to help others, teach.
Those who put the needs of many before the need of one, teach.
Those who share knowledge, teach.
Those who reach out to help those unable to help themselves, teach.
Those who live life passionately, teach.
Oprah taught every day and every day—in some way—made a difference. I frequently ask myself, "What am I doing to make a difference?"
I'm still searching for the answer.
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