Oprah Winfrey is known for her inspiring talk show…as well as her vast amounts of money, which she has used to make countless lives of others better. She is so famous that she’s known simply by her first name: Oprah. However, though she’s a billionaire celebrity now, that wasn’t always her life. It’s difficult to picture her previous life: she was brought up on a farm in extreme poverty. Her tale is truly one of the rags-to-riches.
Poverty wasn’t Oprah’s only problem in her childhood. She was sexually abused by her cousin when she was young, then taken out for ice cream and told to keep it a secret. Later, she was abused two more times by two separate people–her family friend and her uncle. Oprah endured incredible trials and obstacles and not only overcame all odds to become the famous and successful person she is today, but actually used her struggles to help inspire others.
No matter how awful your struggles have been, you can use them to help others. There will always be someone else who is going through the same issues you are. Help lift them up and inspire them, like Oprah.
Photo by Alan Light