“I think you can awaken curiosity…you can’t teach it.”  – Diane Sawyer

Every life has a lesson…and each week, Oprah is presenting a Master Class…in life…through different people’s own experiences and through other people’s eyes.  These are the lessons and notes from the Diane Sawyer Master Class.  It is a class worth sitting through….and taking notes…

• Master the English language and open yourself up to all kinds of literature ….it will bring you so many things to your life and your perspective.
• Embrace curiosity.  Diane used this story:  A great physicist said that his father used to ask, “Did you ask any great questions today?” what a great way to educate kids.  Not how was your day….but did you ask any good questions…were you curious?  This is a wonderful way to look at the world…and to learn from the world, each day.
• Remain open and listen for the lesson.  Diane says, “I am a part of all that I have met.  With everyone, I learn a different lesson.”  This is a tremendous lesson to remember.  Each person that you meet puts an imprint on your life…each person has a lesson….if you listen and look for it.  In today’s media driven world, this can extend to people you learn from on TV….or people that you read about in an article….or hear about in a story.
• Determination – When you think you just can’t do it anymore find something that can refuel you to keep you going.  Find your fuel….
• It’s okay to be you….just do it well…and be the best you that you can.
• Take each opportunity that life brings you to become the best you that you can be.

Lessons shared from Diane Sawyer’s father…

• “Nothing is ever worth waking up and saying, “I’m not the person I wanted to be.”” Nothing you ever do in life is worth taking away who you are….and taking away the person that you want to be.  This is our life, do it well.
• Diane’s father’s simple checklist for what you should do in life:  

1. Do something that you really love that you would do it anyway.
2. Do it in the most adventurous place you can do it
3. And make sure that it helps other people

• When someone asks you for help….help them …but because you want to be the kind of person who doesn’t walk away when someone is going to have to look at a very bitter chapter. 

More lessons….about people

• You need people around you who are the mirror of your best self.  People around you that are so smart…and that will stop you before you get in trouble.
• Remember that “joy is such a force and energy multiplier in everything that we do.”
• “If you find love….treat it like you have won the lottery…because you have.” – Steven Hawkins
• “Stop looking at your feet and look up at the stars.” – Steven Hawkins.  Believe that anything is possible.
• On marriage…”a criticism is just a really bad way of making a request.  Make the request….don’t make it a criticism.”
• Laugh…then laugh more….“A woman laughing is a woman conquered.” – Napoleon
• Potential unrealized….don’t let it happen…..to yourself.  Potential unrealized….try to help not let it happen to the world around you.
• Live everyday with purpose and joy.  The pure and the hope is in caring about other people…
• Find a great book of inspirational quotes…and give it to yourself for your next birthday/holiday….then, make sure you read it too!

Oprah asks, “How will you be the master of your own life?”   My answer is…Be the best you….and then, strive to be even better.