As you’ve probably heard by now, Oprah announced on Friday that next season will mark the end of The Oprah Winfrey Show. After I got over the initial shock, I started thinking about dreams and the idea of calling it quits. The whole concept fascinates me because, let’s face it, most of us are so busy simply trying get our dreams off the ground, that calling it quits is the last thing we’ve got to worry about! But I suppose for many people, especially those whose dreams have a shelf life, at some point you might have to ask yourself: when is the right time to say good-bye?
Over the years, we’ve seen many people struggle with the decision. For some, the decision is measured in dollar signs, for others physical ability. But for many who have been lucky enough to live their dreams, it’s likely become the very fabric of who they are and saying good-bye means parting with a very important piece of their identity. One recent example that jumps to mind is football player, Brett Favre, who’s been in and out of retirement numerous times over the last four years. A few years earlier, the world watched as rapper, Jay-Z, ended his short-lived retirement and rejoined the music industry. For most dream chasers, I would guess the decision to call it quits is highly personal and doesn’t come easily at all.
In Oprah’s case, she started The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1986 and in the twenty-four years that followed her career exploded making it the most watched daytime talk show in history, launching Oprah’s fame and wealth into a category very few have ever reached. Before our very eyes, Oprah became the quintessential rags-to-riches sucess story. She’s proof that anything is possible and her accomplishments remind us that no dream is too big. So how did she decide to put an end to it all? Here’s what Oprah had to say about her decision:
“Twenty-four years ago, on September 8, 1986, I went live from Chicago to launch the first national Oprah Winfrey Show. I was beyond excited…and as you all might expect, a little nervous. I knew then what a miraculous opportunity I had been given, but I certainly never could have imagined the “yellow brick road” of blessings that have led me to this moment with you. These years with you, our viewers, have enriched my life beyond all measure. And you all have graciously invited me into your living rooms, into your kitchens and into your lives. And for some of you longtime Oprah viewers, you have literally “grown up” with me—we’ve grown together. You had your families, and you raised your children and you left a spot for me in your morning or your afternoon, depending on when The Oprah Show airs in your town. So I just wanted to say that whether you’ve been here with me from the beginning or you came on board last week, I want you all to know that my relationship with you is one that I hold very dear. And your trust in me, the sharing of your precious time every day with me has brought me the greatest joy I have ever known. So here we are, halfway through the season, 24, and it still means as much to me to spend an hour every day with you as it did back in 1986. So why walk away and make next season the last? Here is the real reason: I love this show. This show has been my life. And I love it enough to know when it’s time to say good-bye.”
How will you know when it’s time to say good-bye?
For more on Oprah’s good-bye: http://bit.ly/85Sx9O
