There's A Difference Between "Keeping It Real" and Being Real

Most of us don't know who we truly are and we often have trouble separating our true self from the   facade we show to the world.

Of course many of us don't acknowledge the fact that we wear a mask on a daily basis. We just like to assume that we are "keeping it real"—it's everyone else that's being phony.

Well, here's a perfect test for those of you who subscribe to the latter point: think of a topic that interests you. Ponder the ins and outs of that topic for as long you deem necessary to espouse an intelligent opinion. Once you've done so, ask yourself what part of that opinion is based on your own knowledge, and what part of it is based on the knowledge you've absorbed from the sources around you. 

If you find that most of what you believe is built on an article you read, a talk show you heard, or a speaker you've listened to, then you aren't as "real" as you might think.

The natural response to this is to say we are all going to be guilty of doing that. After all, most of us are just a conglomeration of our experiences and social interactions. It's impossible not to be influenced or shaped by external factors in our environment. 

That's true, and in no way do I expect that this world will house a human being who hasn't been touched or influenced by something he/she read, did, or experienced. That's the way we become who we are—through experiencing this life as an observer.

However, you have to begin investigating and researching matters on your own, as well. You have to start realizing that regurgitating the philosophies of another doesn't make you sound intelligent, it makes you look misinformed.

In as much as you are an observer, you should also be an experimenter. Your belief system should be a result of what YOU know for sure and not what you've heard from the majority. Walk your own path, formulate your own opinions, and become your own person.

There are enough people out there "keeping it real", strive to be a part of the group that's just being real.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Holding Her OWN—Oprah Makes An Impressive Debut

Let me go on the record and say I'm not one of those Oprah fanatics. You know the type—the  ones that would buy a keychain made out of moth balls because she said it was the "best thing ever".

No, I'm more of a casual Oprah fan. I admire all she's accomplished as both talk show host and philanthropist—but I'm not about to start funneling my extra money to the Angel Network.

That said, I did find myself intrigued to see what her new network, OWN, would bring to the media landscape.

I, for one, wasn't interested in seeing an inordinate amount of stories like those you often find on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which has seemingly become the place to go for some of the more troubling and depressing topics of this decade—particularly those centering around abuse and incest.

However, at the same time, I was willing to give her new network venture a chance because I fit her audience profile. I have become disillusioned with television's overall quality over the last five years and long for something better as an alternative. There is entirely too much reality television and not nearly enough substance to be found on the airwaves and it would be nice to have a choice. 

So, when OWN debuted on January 1st, I tuned in to see what Oprah's next chapter looks like, and I was pleasantly rewarded with a refreshing brand of television.

One of the more standout shows was Oprah's Master's Class, on which Jay-Z was first up in offering his reflections on life and what it takes to be a success:

It was captivating to watch and it's a series that definitely seems to have legs with Condoleeza Rice, Maya Angelou, and Simon Cowell all appearing at some point.

Other shows with meat include, Searching For... and Kidnapped By The Kids, both center around the importance of family, and making connections with those most important in our lives.

The documentary covering her final season hosting The Oprah Winfrey Show is also entertaining. It's a bit like being a fly on the wall in her daily life—certainly it's a watered-down snapshot, but it offers enough of a glimpse that you get the idea of how much hard work goes into making her show the success it has become over the year.

OWN definitely has promise and I will be re-visiting the channel often—eager to see what else Ms. Winfrey has to offer.

Related articles

• Oprah Winfrey network earns early raves (hollywoodnews.com)
• Cynics Beware: OWN Works As A Concept and Network (mediaite.com)