Make average great.

First of all I would just like to say that I hate that Ellen is on at 9am here in Minnesota- I am at work damnit!! This really hinders my ability to get my daily fix of comedy at its best! How do I petition it to be on at 4pm instead of 9am?! I realize that it is on CBS and that is Oprah's time slot...but can't it be moved (Ellen that is...I know Oprah is stuck in cement at this point)??

Twice this week I have come home to catch some reasonably entertaining episodes of Oprah. First it was her shoe/bag intervention (which of course this means nearly every audience member got some shoe/bag tutorial and the item to take home!). After learning how to wear heels when you have cankles and Cole Haan sporting Nike Air sole technology...I learned that my over the knee boots (flats of course) that I bought 3 years ago are now the "it" boot of the season- which further proves my trend setting abilities. However- between you and me...I really don't think its a trend that everyone can pull off...just sayin'...

Anyway- the other episode was having a few celebrities go back to work at their first jobs for a day. Martina McBride came from a DQ, Kirstie Ally started out as a house cleaner but quickly turned her house cleanings into interior design projects and Suzy Orman worked at a diner. Both Suzy and Oprah said somethings that really stuck with me.


1. If you make average great your dreams will become reality.
How amazing is this statement?! For soooooo many different things in life too! For me it stands out most in my current job. It's nothing huge, or important, or high paying...but somehow I managed to make it great and its paying off. The residents in my building tell me weekly how much they appreciate me. They tell me I make them laugh. They tell me that the way things are now compared to my predecessor are like night and day in such a good way. Best of all- they tell me they LOVE my writing! And you know what?!? I love helping them. I love making them smile. I am happy knowing I am doing some good somewhere. I still miss aspects of my fashion career but the fact that I have taken a run-of-the-mill office job and made it...great is a dream come true! (of course this does not mean I will remain in the job forever- but I am content...and for right now- it works)

2. Putting a child to work at a younger age makes them appreciate the value of the dollar throughout adulthood.
SO TRUE! I started working when I was a kid...babysitting. When I turned 15 and was told I could work a regular job (restricted hours and shifts but work none the less) I started and never turned back! First it was summer job at friend's family's assembly line plant. When the summer was over I was off to Blimpie Subs/Bridgeman's Ice Cream. I am 28 and have now been working for 17 years! Have I bought some pretty retarded things (yeah- a black light isn't really a must have) gotten myself in some predicaments since then (never EVER co-sign for anything!! ...and sharing bank accounts?...not-a-chance!!!) hell ya! Do I appreciate everything I have earned, how I have spent it and the lessons that have been learned in the process?...oh most definitely- YES. The other thing it did...it set me on the path of independence. Working is a part of life. But working...to support yourself...and create that life for you- that's one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

3. How you treat other human beings tells everyone who you are as a person (or something along those lines).
In other words- if you treat people like shit- you are probably a shitty person. If you treat people with honor, kindness and respect- you are probably a good person. I don't think this needs more words than that.


Moral of the story kiddos?! Sometimes Oprah and Suze have smart things to say and interesting things to learn. Shocking, I know...but true.