An Exclusive Look at Oprah's Journals
A decade-by-decade glimpse into the personal words and thoughts of a devoted diarist.
Photo: George Burns
I've been journaling since I was 15. It's a wonder that I've managed to be a successful human being considering how pathetic I appeared in many of my daily musings. It's a testament to growth and grace that I've come this far.
I wrote a lot of bad poetry in my teens and 20s, mostly about how some guy had done me wrong. I used my journals as therapy. Oh, the time I wasted worrying about men and weight, and what other people thought!
In my 40s, I got wiser. I started using journals to express my gratitude—and watched my blessings multiply. What you focus on expands.
Now I do a combination of gratitude and trying to give some perspective to whatever I'm writing about. I prefer unlined paper to lined, and I also have an iPad app for journaling. It's astonishing to be able to track your own evolution—who I was, who I'm still becoming.
See select entries from Oprah's journals, dating back to 1970!
I wrote a lot of bad poetry in my teens and 20s, mostly about how some guy had done me wrong. I used my journals as therapy. Oh, the time I wasted worrying about men and weight, and what other people thought!
In my 40s, I got wiser. I started using journals to express my gratitude—and watched my blessings multiply. What you focus on expands.
Now I do a combination of gratitude and trying to give some perspective to whatever I'm writing about. I prefer unlined paper to lined, and I also have an iPad app for journaling. It's astonishing to be able to track your own evolution—who I was, who I'm still becoming.
See select entries from Oprah's journals, dating back to 1970!
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