PE 2/18 Oprah Winfrey Speech – Part 3

Now I want to talk a little bit about failings, because nobody’s journey is seamless or smooth.

We all stumble. We all have setbacks.

* stumble: to trip or lose one’s footing, physically or metaphorically

ex> Even the best person stumbles from time to time and says something mean.

* setbacks: obstacles or incidents that prevent one from reaching a goal

ex> Despite the early setbacks, Google became a very successful company.

If things go wrong, you hit a dead end – as you will –it’s just life’s way of saying time to change course.

* hit a dead end: to reach a point where further progress is impossible

ex> The management and the union leaders hit a dead end in their negotiations.

And as soon as you get the lesson, you get to move on.

* move on: to continue to something else

ex> When the grass was all gone the cows moved on to the next pasture.

If you don’t get the lesson, it shows up wearing another pair of pants – or skirt – to give you some remedial work.

* show up: to appear suddenly; attend something

ex> Woody Allen said that 80 percent of life is showing up.

"And what I've found is that difficulties come when you don’t pay attention to life’s whisper, because life always whispers to you first.

If you ask the right question – not why is this happening, but what is this here to teach me? – it puts you in the place and space to get the lesson you need."