What Makes Your Heart Race

As I read the email for the second, and then the third time, my heart was racing, and I could hardly contain myself. Could it be true? Am I reading this correctly? I just have to tell someone…I think I’m going to bust. I twinkle-toed down the hallway to tell my husband, but his office door was closed…shoot, he must be on a business call. What could possibly be more important than this? I floated back to my office and read the email again, to which I responded as follows:

From: Shari Ciapka
To: 'oprahshowNYC'
Re: Have any questions for Nate, Suze, Dr. Oz or Dr. Phil?

Hello! I'm assuming that as a recipient of this email, my reservation has been confirmed; I’m aware that someone in my party must pick up the tickets at Radio City's 'Will Call' on either Wednesday, May 5th or Thursday May 6th. Is there any additional information that I need? Thank you so much...we are sooo excited!

Within minutes, I received the following response:

To: Shari Ciapka
From: ‘oprahshowNYC’
Re: Have any questions for Nate, Suze, Dr. Oz or Dr. Phil?

Hello!  Attached is the confirmation information.  Thank you!

-Nicole
Audience Team

It was true…I officially had tickets to “Oprah Fridays–Live: From Radio City Music Hall” in New York City on Friday, May 7, 2010. And, at that moment, I realized that I’m absolutely capable of making anything happen in my life that I really, really want to.

Readers, do you remember on February 23, 2010, when I wrote the following closing to one of my posts... "don’t think I’ve given up on Oprah just yet! I still plan to get on The Oprah Show one day, and whether I’ll be sitting in the audience or on the stage, it doesn't really matter - either scenario is a good place to be!”

From that day on, I made it my business to get on The Oprah Show, and I was absolutely willing to fly to Chicago where Oprah’s usually taped. After all, Oprah’s been a role model for me since I was in high school, and her aura has significantly impacted my life and millions of others across the globe. For months, I checked the Oprah.com website every single day for a chance to get audience tickets, and I never gave up. And then, I finally got my big break…the heaven’s opened up, and the angels began to sing…Oprah’s actually coming to me…she’s going to be in NYC. I submitted my plea online, along with thousands of others, and as you know by now, I actually got tickets!

Last Friday, on a beautiful spring day, one of my life-long dreams came true as I ventured into NYC with my husband (Mark), my sister (Ellen), and dear friend (Lisa) to be an audience member of The Oprah Show. In disbelief, we joined a never ending line of ticketholders that spanned for blocks and blocks and blocks. And, one hour later, we were in the door and seated. Within minutes, we would be a part of Oprah’s power packed 10th Anniversary celebration for “O Magazine” featuring her experts, Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, Nate Berkus, and Suze Orman - whose careers have launched to superstardom since their first appearances on Oprah; next would be a celebrity mother-daughter fashion show featuring Vanessa Williams, Jane Seymour, Cybill Sheperd, and Susan Lucci; and finally, Christina Aguilera would be performing live on stage.

The lights went out, and the 5,300-person crowd went wild as Oprah came on stage in a sparkling pink sequin skirt. My heart raced with excitement as I felt the mezzanine floor shake beneath me, and I knew that we were a part of something really big.  As everyone settled in, Oprah began her interviews with her experts, and one by one, each revealed sense savvy advice as follows:

Dr. Phil - Do one thing for yourself every day that shakes up your life.

Dr. Oz – You’ve got to show up for your life. If there’s something on your wish list for life, make plans today to do it.

Nate Berkus – Your home should tell the story of your life, your family, and your values through photos, personal collections, art, and other personal items.


Suze Orman – Take an oath of financial honesty…stay honest with who you are, and don’t let your things define you.

The rest of the hour swept by like lightening.  Before I knew it, Oprah was waving goodbye to her Radio City audience, and I can check one more thing off my bucket list.

How about you…what makes your heart race? What do you yearn to touch, taste, smell, see and hear today, or this year, or in this lifetime? Don’t wait to do it. Show up for your life, and you’ll be amazed by what, and who, shows up for you!