Lessons Learned From Being On The Oprah Show

I was lucky enough to have been chosen for a home makeover by the Oprah Winfrey Show. Nate Berkus was in my house and made it look amazing! It was a fantastic experience and I owe it all to writing a blog and having great neighbors.

Along the way, I learned a few things and I thought I would tell you about them.

1. You may never be really ready when an opportunity presents itself. But you have to take it anyway.

I had dreams of being on Oprah, when say, my movie won an Oscar, or my book went to #1 on the NY Times bestseller list, or when my non-profit helped countless millions of people across the world. But I haven’t done any of those things. (I also had dreams of being on TV 20 pounds lighter and with no gray hairs, but that didn’t happen, either.) So when I was asked if I wanted to gather my neighbors and put on a swap meet, I could have let those things hold me back and said No. But the lesson was: say Yes in the moment or forever kick yourself in the behind.

2. Being on Oprah means people you know, but haven’t seen for a long time, will come out of the woodwork.

I’ve heard from 3rd cousins, old boyfriends, step-aunts, friends, colleagues and high school classmates on Facebook, by phone and by email. I think the lesson is remembering how big our circles really are and that maintaining those connections has real significance. 

3. You’ll instantly know who is rooting for you and who’s feeling bitter at your good fortune. You won’t have to wonder.

Most people have been genuinely excited for me and my family. They have cheered for me and I am touched by that and very grateful. But there are a few people who are pretty unhappy it happened to me and not to them. And they have really let me know it, in that way that people do. So the experience has sort of brought it all into sharp focus: some people are Your People, and some people Aren’t. And I guess the lesson is: Not my problem, baby — it’s all on them.

4. Blogging is its own reward. But sometimes it can pay off in other ways, too.

I started a blog about my neighborhood so I could chronicle what was going on and sing the praises of this little slice of heaven, called Mar Vista, that some people think is just a place you drive through on your way to Venice. (Not so!)  I imagined people would read it and get good information from it. I imagined I might get traffic and run ads and turn it into a business that sustained me and the community. (I still do.)

But I never imagined that writing Mar Vista Mom would lead to the Oprah show finding it and asking if my neighbors and I would be on the show. Getting to talk to Oprah through the magic technology of Skype, having a famous decorator transform the office room I’m sitting in right now from a sewing work room to a beautiful showpiece where I feel calm, happy and productive, for free, is one of the most amazing and wonderful things that’s happened in my life, and for which I feel giddy with gratitude. Lesson: gifts sometimes drop into your lap when you least expect them. Enjoy!

Oh, and WRITE A BLOG.