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Yes, there IS a connection in my life that has to do with Oprah. It’s true!
I’ll starting by telling you about this bottle…because IT has a connection to the ONE time I actually WENT to the Oprah Winfrey Show back in 2008…a day CHANGED my life!
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THAT is what THIS bottle represents…one BIG “Godwink” that was a HUGE pivot for me…all because of a random series of events all tied to Miss O!
You’ll see why after you finish watching these videos here and reading this recently UPDATED post! I even talked about it over on my YouTube several years ago (see below). Getting this new 🌈 water bottle NOW is THE cherry on TOP…a real full-circle moment, taking me back to almost 12 years ago…before I even went to Chicago…
December 17th , 2007…a day I’ll always remember.
It was the busiest day of the year at the Post Office. Just like the day we had yesterday. You know, the day that every news station does a story about how long the lines are for everyone mailing holiday gifts. I didn’t care. I was on a mission. I had a VERY important package to send off that day. I actually ANNOUNCED to the entire crowd in line that MY package was headed to Chicago and was going to win me a seat in Oprah’s studio audience! Yeppers, and everyone cheered and wished me luck! No lie! It really helped lighted the mood in our local, crowded postal facility that afternoon!
Yes, I had found out three days before that Oprah was having a contest to snag a seat in her audience for an upcoming show featuring my favorite performer, Bette Midler. All I had to do was send in a video explaining why I was Bette’s Biggest fan.
Well, that would be EASY, right?
Think again. I had NEVER filmed myself in front of a camera…EVER! I knew that’s what some folks were doing to get into the audience for other shows I had seen…but how could do I I do it? I didn’t feel competent enough to work our video camera very well.
I thought to myself, “I have got to try this, though, because I love me some Bette AND I really wanted to go to a taping of Oprah before she stopped doing the show…what have I got to lose? I should at least attempt to do it!”
So, I decided to give it a try, and I dove head first into making my very first video to send in to the the show’s producers at Harpo. How NUTS was I?? What I didn’t know was how much it would impact my life.
Now, I won’t go into the fact that I had to stumble through the actual process since I insisted to do it on my own, for the most part. I didn’t want to bother my husband too much with my silly plan. I had only two days to film edit and mail off a video tape. Let’s just say I didn’t sleep much that weekend. I also won’t delve into the details of how I sent everyone I knew in my life an email and asked them to write the producers, on my behalf. I will just tell you one little story…
I met a woman because of my Oprah show experience. No, not Oprah. No, not even the Divine Miss M. Being in the audience for the show was wonderful, but it’s another audience member I met that day who really helped me. I really feel it was a blessing to have had the chance to randomly meet her, too.
This video, recorded several years ago, explains how I met Megan Castran. I came across a couple of her YouTube Jewelchic videos just a couple of weeks before I met her in Chicago, but the story doesn’t stop there. As you will see, finding her has everything to do with how I took off on my hooping journey! Actually, had it not been for my trip to The Oprah Winfrey Show, I may not ever have had the chance to meet her, much less start teaching hoopdance. She helped open my eyes to bigger possibilities.
Along our path, we meet others who we are just suppose to meet. We may not see the reason until much later. You have heard me speak of others besides Megan. I will never get tired of talking about all the wonderful people who have come into my life, and this won’t be the last post about who I hold near and dear to my heart.
I challenge you to look at your life and relationships in the same way. When you do, you see more of the good and less of the bad. You realize how blessed you are instead of what you might be lacking , or feel you are lacking.
Our relationships are a gift. This time of year, I think it’s a good idea to thank EVERYONE we know for being in our life, for being a treasure to us. What an easy gift to give…
So, with my 10th Anniversary of aRoundJoy here AND the 12th anniversary of making my VERY first video EVER coming up AND finally, having a new, JOYFUL, colorful water bottle in my hands, DESIGNED by a woman that inspired me to DO what I do, to live with passion…it ALL simply brings up memories of how I met this VERY special person…all because Oprah!
I also just thought it would be a nice time to give her an edited and updated shout out so you can see how she’s giving back to the world these days, helping support Tererai Trent Foundation…you can find that water bottle on my Amazon Store Home & Health Idea List and for those in Australia, get all the items she designed at HOUSE
Be sure to follow Jewelchic over on Instagram and Facebook, too…she’ll brighten you day!
Keep shining bright, Megan! You mean the world to me. I’m so grateful we connected!
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Thank-you SOOOOO much for this beautiful blog…I also feel incredibly lucky to have met YOU and I think of you EVERY time i see a hoop!!! 😀 xxx
Megan, I love that I can always be surprised by a random “hoop spotting” from your travels, Megan! Whenever you share a picture with me, it’s such a treat! When I see a smile, peace sign or COLOR, I think of YOU EVERY time! xxxx