Reflections On What I've Learned from Oprah

A few weeks ago I posted about some of the things I had learned from Oprah, primarily in the realm of what I call "Oprah therapy." The truth is, I've learned a lot more than just that from her show, although I do not find everything else nearly as comforting and helpful. She had one show with two doctors (one with the last name of "Oz") that covered some very intimate details of the inner workings of our human anatomy that even grossed out Oprah a little. I think I understand, to an extent, what she may have been feeling. It really does not comfort me too much to know I pass gas just as much as anybody else or that my stools should be of a particular consistancy and shape, although I now find myself double checking - just to make sure I am within the "healthy" range. These are just not things about myself I ever thought I would end up studying.

Many of her shows deal with tragedies too grim to imagine which, I suppose, means I have really been very fortunate in many ways. This is an important perspective for someone like me who has had to deal with a number of difficulties and family health problems and traumas over the last several years - not to mention what the rest of my family has gone through, too.

I also admit I find very little of interest when Oprah "gabs with the girls" type of thing about "bling," or makeup, or clothes - although hers are quite lovely, or any other subject I consider frivolous. This is not quite a fair attitude when coupled with the fact of her many, many projects that directly aid people in dire need of as much assistance as possible, such as some of the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Her heart is huge when it comes to lending help to those who seem to have been abandoned or forgotten by the rest of the world. Perhaps a little "girl talk" is to be permitted now and then in light of all the other hard work she accomplishes for the less fortunate members of the human race. She has even taken the part of helping to keep certain types of wildlife gainfully employed as evidenced by her show on coffee. Perhaps, though, they should have mentioned the animal's part in the processing of that hideously expensive brew before they got on the air and had her drinking it without a clue.

Also, to be fair, Oprah is not the only place I have learned unpleasant facts of life. Sometimes your own body is the most informative teacher, as we all have had to deal with Frankenboogers now and then, or what we are sure is an extraordinary amount of gaseous emmission and report, or any one of a number of other "fun" moments that come from living in one of these imperfect machines. There are other sources for this information, too. Belching and farting contests usually take place amongst a select group of friends and participants, but I have stumbled onto them, having had a brother and other male relatives so inclined, and the decibles possible stagger the mind. Skunks also seem a lot more companionable after witnessing one of these events.

There is a lot to be learned from children, too, as they ask their questions as part of their learning processes. The number of euphemisms for various body parts is rather impressive when issuing forth from the lips of an otherwise innocent child. They also take particular joy in sounding out many of these synonyms in very public places - to the joy and amusement of their parents (well, maybe not always). Besides, where else, except from a child, can you learn that your knees look like pigs or that it is NOT alright to poop on the doctor? It is so important to realize that this is not misbehavior, only a child's innate sense of joy at learning about life and themselves, although one might take exception to the aiming practice in the bathroom if there is a small boy in the family.