I was mesmerized by Oprah Winfrey's address to the graduating class at Howard University recently, broadcast live by CNN. I've been telling everyone to find it online and listen to it.

What I should be preaching is for us to try to be more like Oprah! Just imagine a world with more people like Oprah. The thought boggles the mind.

Is there anyone who does not know who Oprah Winfrey is, anyone? Presuming the answer is no gives me hope for our world. And is there anyone who doesn't admire the woman?

Day in and day out this truly self-made woman does and says the right things. And that is just her modus operandi, just her starting point. She gives away fortunes to help others and to inspire us to help others. No lip service here - action, example, inspiration.

What thoughts did that fortunate audience at Howard take away? One was to be grateful. Not just grateful for obvious blessings, but to be grateful when things go wrong because they teach us lessons and we have the ability to make adjustments and changes. Gratitude makes room for more blessings. Isn't this a wonderful thought! It is gratitude that attracts blessings to pour into our being. She ought to know.

Oprah Winfrey exhilarates me,
gives me belief in humanity,
hope for the future.
She stands before us as proof
that each of us
can make a difference.

Oprah encourages us to be true to our principles, let integrity rule. She could have been, she reports, a 'billionaire many times over' if she would have accepted offers which were not within her principled guidelines. Following her principles, fortunately, has given her more than half a billion. Probably plenty. She made principled decisions, however, regardless of financial consequences.

'I stand here as a symbol of what is possible when you believe in the dream of your own life,' Oprah told the thousands of listeners present at the ceremony and millions fortunate enough to have been tuned in at the time. What an example she is for us if we just resolve to follow her lead and 'go forth and serve.'

Oprah Winfrey exhilarates me, gives me belief in humanity, hope for the future. She stands before us as proof that each of us can make a difference. 'Don't be afraid,' she encouraged. All you need to do is know who you are.'
Deep breath!

Jean Loxley-Barnard has been a writer all her life and studied both sociology and psychology at George Washington University where she earned a B.A. Her company, The Shopper, Inc., encompasses all the Loxley-Barnard family publications - The Shopper Magazines and Doctor to Doctor Magazine. She has been in the advertising, consulting and publishing business for 39 years.