Living Oprah or Living Jesus?

Can you believe someone would think so much of Oprah that they would slavishly follow everything she says and does, including her entire arsenal of recommendations (most of whom are paid advertisers), for 12 months?

According to Robyn Okrant, many women are doing this surreptitiously across America, and probably the world, so she thought it would be an interesting experiment to follow Oprah’s advice for an entire year.

That’s right; only Oprah for 12 months. I feel nauseous just thinking about it, but Ms Okrant, who must have the stamina of an Arabian camel, tackled this ridiculous challenge, for what reason we are still not sure, and in true Hollywood style kept a journal which is now the subject of a book: Living Oprah.

It’s a bit demoralizing when you think about it. How can one woman have so much influence on so many, when we are battling to equip even Christians to live for Jesus one day at a time. Is it possible Oprah Winfrey is the antichrist?

Then again, I guess there is a difference in what is being offered. On the one hand, Oprah represents a lifestyle so rare only a handful in history have ever attained it and Jesus said;

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

Self denial does not appear to be real high on Oprah’s agenda.

Thankfully Ms Okrant is not just smart enough to make a buck out of this; she is smart enough to realize the reality of Oprah is far different to her presentation.

For 12 months Ms Okrant detailed on her blog Living Oprah the strain. It was a simple premise: doing everything recommended on The Oprah Winfrey Show, in O magazine and at Oprah.com.

"I think a lot of women are turning to the media for answers about what they are supposed to look like or supposed to read.

“And a lot of women were judging themselves because they weren't meeting Oprah's ideals.

“And I thought, 'Here's a woman who has her sheets changed for her every other day, who has a private jet and a private chef, so why are we trying to live up to her ideas?

“I was cynical about it. Part of me was out to prove what happens when we try to live up to someone else's ideals," Ms Okrant said.

The financial strain was one of the biggest challenges. Not many have anything like Oprah’s budget for clothes but, that aside, Robyn found it hard to even dress like Oprah when deep down she was comfortable in a T-shirt and cargo pants.

“I felt like I was in a costume and not being genuine – I guess I got very confused," Ms Okrant said with a healthy dose of understatement.

She had to go to dozens of movies, buy a pile of new release books, take quizzes, keep up to date with trashy gossip (OK, so that’s a tautology) and shop till she dropped. (Now there’s a good point: does Oprah actually do any shopping?)

Cosmetics, furniture, clothes, food and even garden tools were all on the list. Copious amounts of them. The mini-me Oprah spent over $5000 fulfilling her ambition.

But then there was the fall out. Robyn’s marriage began to suffer (men, would you really want your wife to become Oprah?).

"With all the hours and energy it takes to follow someone else's ideals of beauty, spirituality and happiness, I'm drifting away from my friends and having very little time for my husband," her blog recorded.

Interestingly, Ms Okrant found attending the taping of an Oprah Winfrey show an almost religious experience.

"Winfrey walks on stage and we all begin to clap," she writes.

"We all jump to our feet. The applause and cheering get louder and louder. A woman near me yells, 'Thank you, Jesus! Thank, you, Jesus!' I'm not even Christian but it feels blasphemous,” Ms Okrant said.

At least Oprah didn’t ask for money. She’s a step ahead there I suppose. Still, being Oprah did cost a fortune and it seems here sponsors were the winners.

"This month Oprah is asking us to think about our consumption, our wastefulness, the way we treat the planet," Okrant wrote.

"But smack in the middle of a couple of pro-planet episodes, a ginormous, gas-guzzling SUV is given away as a gift,” Ms Okrant recorded.

Surprise, surprise.

The year ended with Robyn completing all her ‘Oprah’ tasks & there she was on new year’s day; Robyn Okrant again, not Oprah Winfrey. But if being Oprah was difficult, dropping her proved just as problematic.

"After the project ended I thought, 'Great, I'm getting my life back,' but I couldn't because I had strapped myself so tightly to her. For the first few months I was still watching the show. Now I look back and think how ridiculous but it took me a while to cut the umbilical cord,” Ms Okrant said.

In retrospect, Robyn Okrant has a few profound words for those who might be caught up in the Oprah experience.

"We can't look to Oprah for our answers," Okrant says.

What a pity Robyn Okrant does not know who to look to.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt 11:28-30)

 (This is a re-post from 25th April because Oprah is currently visiting Australia).