What's Your Calling? Part Deux

I've decided I want to delve a little deeper about what Oprah said on her last show and what was quoted in the "What's Your Calling"? posting.  In short, she says, "We are all called. Everybody has a calling, and your real job in life is to figure out what that is and get about the business of doing it.  That is what a calling is. It lights you up and it lets you know that you are exactly where you're supposed to be, doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing".

My friend Katy, who lives in California, helping me during one of my literature presentations.  She is pretending to be Abiyoyo, a giant monster.

I nod in agreement when I read that, but then on the other hand I shake my head because I feel as though I had "it" and then I lost "it" - my calling.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED doing trainings like I did for 10 years.  I thrived on the excitement and the thrill of standing in front of people who were there to listen to me.  People who hung on my every word because I KNEW what I was talking about.  I had been there; I had done that so I was packed full of credibility.  I remember one group of people telling me that "it didn't matter if I was teaching them how to burn toast, they'd still be there".  I had my own set of groupies.  I loved standing at the door of the room and watching the people continue to file in and then being amazed that sometimes it was standing room only or hanging out the door. 

I always felt that this was an inherited gift from my parents - especially Dad.  I always felt that he could give an hour speech about the benefits of a telephone book with hardly any notice if it was necessary.  I always felt that I also had an advantage of growing up in the church and having to give talks on a regular basis; that this prepared me for bigger and better things.  And it did.  It gave me a sense of confidence and poise and as long as I knew my subject, I could "fluff and bluff" and "razzle and dazzle" my captive audience.  And I did for 10 years.  I would not even begin to venture a guess of the number of trainings, workshops, presentations I did during that time.  And, I certainly would not begin to estimate the number of people who have sat through my classes.

As Oprah said..."It lit me up and it let me know that I was exactly where I was supposed to be, doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing".  I was on fire and life was so very, very exciting because it always changed because of an email or a phone call.  It always changed because of location, presentation, attendees, time of year - no training was ever, ever the same.

Then life changed and I lost that phase of my life.  When I lost my second job in a year and the move to Wyoming became a reality, that part of my life ceased.  I have wonderful memories about my past experiences and the opportunities it afforded me.  I suppose I'm thinking about all this since I am now once again trying to figure out what path my life is supposed to be taking.

So now I've lost my third job in three years.  Where is my next calling?  What is it that I'm supposed to be doing next?  Hmmmm, I guess only one person knows for sure and He's not telling me yet.

What's Your Calling?

First and foremost let me say - Yes, I loved watching Oprah.  I admit it - I am an Oprah fan - a true blue fan.  I'd even set my DVR and record her shows just in case I couldn't make it home to see them and I didn't want to miss them.  I didn't know what the show was about every day, and there were some days I wasn't really interested in the subject matter, but I couldn't take a chance that I might miss a "really great" show.  I've been very lucky here since moving to Wyoming.  I had the chance to watch her show at the standard 4:00 p.m. time or I could watch it on another channel at 9:00 p.m.  Boy, did I consider myself blessed.

Did I agree with everything she said or did? Absolutely not, but I've seen her influence and change the lives of people in a good positive way.  Most shows I watched with a box of Kleenex close by.  Those Kleenex might be used for wiping tears of joy, of laughter, of sadness, or "peeing in your pants" hilarity.  I loved the road trip with Gayle because I could identify with Gayle incessant singing, I loved the single Alaskan men show, oh there were so many, many wonderful times spent in front of the TV watching Oprah.

Her final show (which I recorded since I was out of town) struck a chord with me.  It's something I've thought about for many, many years but a lot more in recent weeks since I've been suffering from "laid off itis". 

This is a portion of what Oprah said at the beginning of her final episode..."What I knew for sure from this experience with you is that we are all called. Everybody has a calling, and your real job in life is to figure out what that is and get about the business of doing it. Every time we have seen a person on this stage who is a success in their life, they spoke of the job, and they spoke of the juice that they receive from doing what they knew they were meant to be doing. We saw it in the volunteers who rocked abandoned babies in Atlanta. We saw it with those lovely pie ladies from Cape Cod making those delicious potpies. ... We saw it every time Tina Turner, Celine, Bocelli or Lady Gaga lit up the stage with their passion. Because that is what a calling is. It lights you up and it lets you know that you are exactly where you're supposed to be, doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing. And that is what I want for all of you and hope that you will take from this show. To live from the heart of yourself. You have to make a living; I understand that. But you also have to know what sparks the light in you so that you, in your own way, can illuminate the world."

What I want you to know as this show ends: Each one of you has your own platform. Do not let the trappings here fool you. Mine is a stage in a studio, yours is wherever you are with your own reach, however small or however large that reach is. Maybe it's 20 people, maybe it's 30 people, 40 people, your family, your friends, your neighbors, your classmates, your classroom, your co-workers. Wherever you are, that is your platform, your stage, your circle of influence. That is your talk show, and that is where your power lies. In every way, in every day, you are showing people exactly who you are. You're letting your life speak for you. And when you do that, you will receive in direct proportion to how you give in whatever platform you have.