Oprah says...

"We can't become what we need to be by remaining what we are."

I'm visiting my parents for a few days and this is the quote that is taped to the desk where I'm sitting. I'm not sure it makes sense, the quote. The thing about quotes is that they are a little pretentious, like this blog, maybe. I mean, why would someone say something like that unless they know it will be run in a magazine under the picture of a little boy wearing a sheet for a cape, standing on a hillside, surrounded by nothing but blue sky.

I've read and re-read the quote several times now. I'm trying to use my English-major skills and apply a deconstruction of the quote, word by word. But, it's not working. We obviously "can't become what we need to be by remaining who we are." Duh.

I guess I see the motivational potential in it. I think what she is trying to say is, do something, stop talking about big plans and what you are going to do someday, just do it.

I've been re-reading Franny and Zooey lately and Oprah's quote is in direct contrast to a line I just read that says:

"I'm sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody" (pg. 30).

So, Salinger says it's perfectly ok to be ordinary. I totally get what he's saying. And I kinda like it. But, I guess there should be a pleasant medium. Oh look, I just used the word pleasant. Awesome.

I guess the question is this: Who has a better handle on what life's all about, Oprah or J.D. Salinger?

Anyway, I think "quotes," the ones that are manufactured to be quotes, are dumb. Like those motivational posters you see in offices all the time--the ones with pictures of random dudes kayaking and hang gliding--are even more dumb.

I'm just saying.