What is it about a person that makes them an optimist? Could it be having a sense of humor? Or perhaps an outgoing personality? A good example of a person that exudes optimism would be the television host " Oprah Winfrey". Her charisma captivates millions of viewers everyday. Her optimism shines through because she has been through adversity yet she still sees the best in people and chooses to make a difference in their lives.
             As a young child, Oprah already had a mountain of obstacles in front of her; she was born to unwed teenage parents, was female, and poor. Traumatic events such as sexual abuse added to her seemingly unconquerable amount of obstacles. In spite of all this, Oprah has become one of the most successful people in the world. Rather than focusing on the negative aspects of her life, she chose to focus on the positive. Her optimistic outlook contributed to her motivation for success.
             Yet her success has not isolated her from everyday people. She finds potential in others that most would consider a lost cause. Remembering her humble beginnings from which she rose, she reaches out to the disadvantaged. Many respect her for her generosity. Oprah's willingness to give people the benefit of a doubt is proof of her optimistic approach to life.
             Making a positive difference is not only the theme of her show but also that of her life. The positive themes on her program encourage women to lead a happy and healthy lifestyle. For instance, In the February 2002 issue of her magazine, Oprah suggests that being optimistic "is a scientifically proven way to get happier, healthier, and even catnippier to the opposite sex." Oprah believes in the power of being optimistic. Through her life experiences she has realized what is truly important. If she were not optimistic, she probably would not be where she is today.
             Oprah can attribute a great deal of her success to her optimistic att
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