An Open Letter to Dr Phil and Oprah

This post is by Kim Murphy.

Dear Dr. Phil and Oprah,

Soon I’ll be back in the workforce. But I want you to know I’ve really enjoyed the time we’ve spent together over the last few months. You’ve been great company while I’ve been at home, trying to decide what new career direction to take.

Image by Danilo Vitoriano

You’ve helped me structure my days. I don’t usually watch television during the daytime, but I’ve made an exception for you. In the morning, I happily go about my household chores and run errands, knowing Dr Phil will be dropping by at midday followed by Oprah at one o’clock. Not that I necessarily sit glued to the television while you’re on—most days I keep on working, and you’re there in the background while I’m washing or ironing or stacking the dishwasher.

After you’ve finished for the day, I switch off the television and head out to tackle one of the many activities I’ve rediscovered now I’ve got more time. But I often think about what you’ve discussed that day.

You’ve given me information and advice about things I would otherwise never have known. I credit Dr Phil with my knowledge of drug addiction and rehabilitation, a topic regularly discussed on his show. In the unlikely case my husband should turn to drugs, I now feel informed enough to (a) perform an intervention in our home, (b) have my husband admitted to a rehab centre, ideally La Hacienda Treatment Centre in Texas, and (c) avoid becoming an “enabler”, thereby sabotaging my husband’s recovery from addiction.

Likewise, I thank Oprah for introducing me to so many of her good friends. Her favourite interior designer, Nate Berkus, has helped me understand how decluttering my home and installing decent wardrobes can change my life. Her favourite physician, Dr Mehmet Oz, has taught me how to enrich my diet with anti-aging foods, like blueberries and green tea. And her favourite sex therapist, Dr Laura Berman, has reminded me to use the correct anatomical names for my body parts, rather than saying “va-jay-jay” and “botbot.”

These last few months at home have renewed my spirit and helped me reconnect with things I enjoy. I’ve taken classes in creative writing and Swedish massage at my local community college. I’ve put my cookbooks to good use and reignited my passion for cooking. I’ve got to know the shopkeepers in my neighbourhood. I’ve started swimming again.

Yes, I’ve been busy while I reoriented my life and chose a new career path, but when I had a quiet moment, you were always there. And whenever I felt nervous about the future, you reminded me that my concerns are manageable, and my life is rich. Thank you, Dr Phil and Oprah!

Kim

Kim Murphy lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband and two cats. She recently said goodbye to a stressful career in corporate marketing and now works part-time for a small consultancy and studies Swedish massage. Her friends and family take advantage of her new massage skills whenever possible.