Motivation

I SAW OPRAH!!!

Oprah Taken by @JaneThang
Oprah Taken by @JaneThang

Okay, so on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 I @MsJaneThang, saw Oprah Winfrey and Justin Bieber at the same place at the same time and I am just about the happiest person gleaming right now! lol Every since I moved to Chicago, meeting Oprah has been at the top of my bucket list. I have yet to have my conversation with her but I am sure it is yet to come. My daily affirmations have really gotten me through the funky rainy days we were having for the last couple of weeks. I was so relieved to be able to take some time to enjoy the beautiful morning that enveloped me on Wednesday before heading into work. Not sure of the temperature but it was warmer than usual and the sun was shinning so bright. The fall leaves were gorgeous as they flew around the city in golden harvest colors as perfectly layered clothed people walked up and down the streets in magnificent fall attire. I was truly inspired. I regret not taking pictures of the brilliantly dressed individuals that I walked by but my camera would come to great use when I finally got downtown!
I initially walked passed the Ralph Lauren store and the bar and grill attached with curiosity when I saw TV production equipment and a sheer black shade covering a part of the restaurant window to block the sun for what looked like a lunch scene for a reality TV show. I didn’t want to pry so I kept walking. I was headed to the BestBuy on Magnificent Mile debating on stopping by Cheesecake Factory for lunch since I hadn’t been downtown in a while. I made my rounds and decided to eat at Chic-Fil-a instead; it was so good. I hadn’t eaten in there in such a long time either! I missed my waffle fries, lemonade, and that chicken sandwich with pepper jack cheese! mmmm… 🙂 Moving along….I stayed there for a while; sitting near the window, people watching, thinking and tweeting. Sometimes you just need those moments by yourself just to let your mind go free and it was amazing. I felt happy and I remember making a status on facebook that said: “So this day is freaking gorgeous! I love this day! My mind is clear and inspiration is just floating all around!! lol What is going on? I am living ABUNDANCE! :-)”

Not too long after, I got up to walk around aimlessly toward Magnificent Mile again, since I still had time before I had to be at work. Across the street, I saw a small crowd starting to form in front of the Ralph Lauren bar and grill entrance. I was maybe about 6-8 people then and on the opposite side of the street where I was standing was a guy and girl staring in the crowds direction. I asked them if they new what was going on and they said they had no idea. So I kept walking towards the corner to cross the street at the light. I made my nosy way to the crowd and asked around. A girl told me that Justin Bieber was inside. I smiled and chuckled a bit and figured he was in there eating and didn’t necessarily feel up to standing outside the restaurant until he made his exit just to find out he snuck out the back door. I was just about to head back to Magnificent Mile until something made me turn around. I seriously don’t know if it was her voice or her presence but my head turned and there she was standing outside the door talking to the crowd. It was OPRAH! lol I was completely star struck! I went for my phone to take a picture and the darn thing frozed on me. Touch screens suck! The funny thing that made my co-workers believe I planned this or I knew Oprah was coming was the fact that I had my Cannon Rebel in my purse and pulled it out take about 3 pictures of her. I carry my camera so I can capture randomly awesome moments like this and I am so glad I did because my cell phone was a total failure at this.

Oprah Taken by @JaneThang
Oprah Taken by @JaneThang

I just stood in my corner of view as she requested in a positively sweet and humble manner that the crowd tries not to wave too much in the window while she interviews Justin Bieber on the inside.  Before she went back into the restaurant, one lady was able to have her moment. She requested to get her picture taken with her and Oprah nicely responded, “I’m sorry, if I take a picture with you, I have to take a picture with everybody”. There weren’t many people out there at that time but I could understand; folks would have came out of absolutely no where for a chance to take a picture with such a powerful woman. The lady then decided to assert herself with a handshake and proceeded to thank Oprah and basically gave her short speech. The short little speech you prepare to say to the unique individual you hope to one day meet. It was awesome to witness. No one in the small and almost intimate crowd interfered as the two embraced and Oprah kindly waved good bye and walked back into the restaurant. I had the Martin “You Go Girl!” thang going as we all looked in admiration at the lady that had her moment with Oprah. I had wished I stayed in front near the door where that lady was but I was glad I hadn’t gotten too far away and it was almost shocking to realize afterwards that my feet were planted into the spot I was standing in and my eyes were glued on what was happening that lead my heart to race multiple miles a minute. It was an amazing feeling so I stuck around until the interview was over. lol I could see Justin Bieber facing the window through the black sheer shade I saw earlier. I could also see that back of Oprah’s head as she interviewed him.

Oprah and Justin Bieber Taken by @MsJaneThang
Oprah and Justin Bieber Taken by @MsJaneThang

By time the interview ended, the crowd had grew and real paparazzi had showed up and camera guys that were apart of Oprah’s production crew were filming the crowd. I hope I make it on television but you never know. ha! I found out that they were filming for Oprah’s show on OWN, “Next Chapter”. I will definitely be tuning in and you should also! The Chicago police were working to keep things under control. They didn’t want anyone standing on the marble foundation or the little cages surrounding the flower pots on the sidewalk and they definitely didn’t want the whole sidewalk blocked off. They did their job; people were annoyed but no arrest. The crowd was mostly positive; a lot of young girls and guys just want a peek at Bieber and it seemed like me and the older crowed or folks that had never seen Oprah in person before were excited to see her. There were a few snobs that walk passed too that seemed too cool to care about all the fuss about these two celebrities. I guess I’m just not in that place in my life yet to not appreciate a good time; a feel good moment. This was awesome and so cool! It was Oprah Winfrey and Justin Bieber! lol stopppp itttttt!  Eventually Oprah and Bieber came out to greet the crowd and Bieber sang a song that every one in the crowd seemed to know. He gave a few high-fives and I believe an autograph or two but I’m not sure because it was getting hard to see. The crowd behaved well for the most part. No one tried to push too hard to get too close. Everyone had a good time and stayed calm enough to enjoy this awesome scene. When Oprah and Bieber went back inside, I headed back to work with an awesome story to tell.

Justin Bieber Taken by @MsJaneThang
Justin Bieber Taken by @MsJaneThang

Stay Blessed everyone! I hope you enjoyed my story! This experience just inspired me to keep pushing even harder towards my dreams. One minute I’m dreaming about something awesome happening and then the next minute, I’m living it! I hope that you also give my daily affirmation a try. All of my close friends and family know that “I am living in abundance”. This means that I have decided to totally trust God and I have strengthened my faith in Him.  I am a work in progress but I keep these scriptures close.

Psalms 66:8-12 “Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.”

Psalms 23: 5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

Find more pictures of this awesome sighting from my “I SAW OPRAH AND JUSTIN BIEBER” album here.

Always Remember to Stay Inspired!

-@MsJaneThang

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