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What would go in your tell all Oprah interview?

26 replies

ATieLikeRichardGere · 09/03/2021 13:17

If you were in a position to tell Oprah the challenges of your journey, what would you include?

I feel like my tell-all would cover the destructive power of alcoholism over various members of my family and what that did to everyone else, how fights over money caused rifts between various family members, people moving abroad and exiling themselves to get away from one another and how this led to me not seeing some people for years and feeling cut off myself, dealings with the mafia and fear and secrecy around that, cultural misunderstandings, bags and bags of mental health problems from depression to narcissism to suicide attempts ... if I stretched right back I think I’d probably start with the role of the war in setting off some of these intergenerational issues.

Most of these things are entirely unknown to my friends. I always thought I’d write it all up in a book as fiction and maybe wait until a few people weren’t around to actually read it!

But what would go on your tell all?

OP posts:
UhtredRagnarson · 09/03/2021 13:19

I think if you’ve stuff you need to get off your chest a therapist is a much better option than a tv talk show.

ATieLikeRichardGere · 09/03/2021 13:22

I mean yes - like I said I always planned to write it as fiction and I haven’t even told my friends a lot of it so I wouldn’t likely tell the world - but, if you were going to?

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UhtredRagnarson · 09/03/2021 13:26

I honestly don’t think I could. I’d cringe myself inside out at the thought of millions of people salivating over the private details of my entire life.

Interested in this thread?

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SmidgenofaPigeon · 09/03/2021 13:34

I cringed when I tried writing a diary to be honest. Self-indulgent whinging it was most of the time! So I would never.

HairyChin · 09/03/2021 13:42

Never in a million years

MrsDThomas · 09/03/2021 13:44

I would stoop so low. Dirty laundry......

UhtredRagnarson · 09/03/2021 13:51

@MrsDThomas

I would stoop so low. Dirty laundry......
Grin
ATieLikeRichardGere · 09/03/2021 13:52

Spoil sports!

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ATieLikeRichardGere · 09/03/2021 13:54

Also I agree on the diaries. I have destroyed mine from my youth! A friend recently found hers and shared it and we had a brilliant laugh!

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MrsDThomas · 09/03/2021 13:55

Oh no!

I mean I wouldn’t stoop so low!

Wish MN had an edit button🤦🏼‍♀️

UhtredRagnarson · 09/03/2021 13:58

Grin @MrsDThomas I was hoping we’d get a preview!

MrsDThomas · 09/03/2021 14:00

TBH mine would be so boring I don’t think anyone would bother with the trailers.

Bagelsandbrie · 09/03/2021 14:02

Oh I’d love to do one. Of course not REALLY but wow it’s fun thinking about it. I could fill a few days! BlushGrin

ATieLikeRichardGere · 09/03/2021 14:07

Yes Bagelsandbrie feel free to give us some highlights!

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daretodenim · 09/03/2021 14:07

I've been tempted at times to do a fb post "outing" my narc mother's real behaviour. Never would though.

However, I do know someone from abroad who has a narc mother. She decided to write a book in her native language about narc mothers..and used her own mother's behaviour as examples ALL THE WAY THROUGH! It got a lot of publicity in her own country and her mother wasn't exactly happy. But then her mother was never happy with her anyway!

GeidiPrimes · 09/03/2021 14:09

Substance addiction + recovery

Abuse (parental + romantic partners)

Prostitution

Also my own sad/weird tale of marrying into a gentrified "firm" type family and not knowing what it entailed. The British aristocracy's traditions are truly bizarre to the uninitiated.

ATieLikeRichardGere · 09/03/2021 14:09

That is incredible daretodenim!

I think narcissists tend to
give rise to interesting stories. There’s definitely one right at the centre of mine.

OP posts:
GeidiPrimes · 09/03/2021 14:10

However, I do know someone from abroad who has a narc mother. She decided to write a book in her native language about narc mothers..and used her own mother's behaviour as examples ALL THE WAY THROUGH! It got a lot of publicity in her own country and her mother wasn't exactly happy

Brilliant!

ATieLikeRichardGere · 09/03/2021 14:11

That sounds like a lot of material
GeidiPrimes. I hope there are some
happy parts for you!

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saracorona · 09/03/2021 14:12

No I think it would be unfair unless they were there too.

GeidiPrimes · 09/03/2021 14:18

It was a lot to work through tbf, but life much better now. I sometimes wonder if I should write a book on it all!

Angelica789 · 09/03/2021 14:22

Mine would be very dull indeed. Obviously everyone’s life could produce 1 novel, I mean a lot of novels are just about the universality of existence, but I think Oprah would turn me down.

ATieLikeRichardGere · 09/03/2021 14:39

See I think anyone’s story could be dramatic. I suspect that, especially for the British, we are just not culturally inclined to interpret ourselves through a lens of drama! The reason why I’ve not mentioned some of my things to friends is less embarrassment and more a conviction that no one would likely care.

Also though, I think I’d love to watch an overdramatised Oprah interview on a normal life. “When did you discover your deep passion for service?” “well, from really early on I just felt that calling. That’s why I work in customer service. The scrutiny can be so hard but I try to just maintain that passion for helping people find what they are looking for...at John
Lewis”

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ATieLikeRichardGere · 09/03/2021 14:42

Because to quote our favourite royals in exile “service is universal”.

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hippychick11 · 09/03/2021 14:46

@ATieLikeRichardGere I can relate to so many things you mentioned and share so many of the same problems. Sending you a big hug. I think if I had the confidence to go on Oprah (which wouldn't happen in a million years)Grin I would speak about my struggles with an eating disorder I've had on and off for years