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O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Born This WayOwen Gildersleeve, IllustratorFEELING GOOD, PAGE 67A word people often use to describe me is...caring. One thing I’ll never change about myself is...my work drive. I’m always trying to push things forward, and I get excited about exploring new ideas. A person who’s one-hundred-percent herself all the time is...my wife, Ciara. She stands by her morals, which is part of what first attracted me to her.Anya Yurchyshyn, Writer“LOVE AND MERCY,” PAGE 107One thing I’ll never change about myself is...my choice to live in a not-great apartment. I’d rather spend money on traveling than on rent. I’m my most authentic self when... I’m driving alone and screaming along to Guns N’ Roses.Laila Ali, Author and TV host“TOP OF THE MORNING,” PAGE 119When I look in the mirror, I see...a woman who’s constantly…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018GIVE AND TAKEWILD RIDERare stormy weather prevented Oprah and crew from shooting our epic December cover atop a glacier in Alaska, as planned. But that didn’t stop the team from getting the shot (on Holland America Line’s MS Eurodam), and Instagrammers appreciated the effort.“Talk about go big or go home!”@midigitalart“I was on the cruise and saw this being shot!”@towinga“What a team. Everybody keeping great spirits in spite of the weather conditions. Love it!”@ebonynikPAGING HALLMARKEditor at large Gayle King discovered a way to make her holiday presents more festive (and inclusive): black-Santa wrapping paper. An inspired fan tweeted in approval.“This picture is so cute, it should be a Christmas card.”@Elainesewell15FURRY FRIENDThe Alaskan Malamute puppy cuddling up to Oprah in our December issue was a hit on social media!WHAT A WAY TO KEEP WARM…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018WIN-WIN-WINKehri Jones, 24 / Killeen, TXBobsleddingPEAK PERFORMANCE: Won gold at the 2017 world championship with teammate Elana Meyers Taylor.ON BUSTING MYTHS: “There are quite a few misconceptions about bobsledding. First, we don’t train in tubs; that’s not a thing. And we don’t lean into the back of the sled. People have just seen Cool Runnings too many times!”Karen Chen, 18 / Fremont, CAFigure skatingPEAK PERFORMANCE: Current U.S. national figure skating champion.ON WORDS FROM THE WISE: “Before the 2017 World Figure Skating Championships, my mentor, Kristi Yamaguchi, told me this: Skate dumb. I thought she was being funny, but she’s right. By competition time, it’s too late to think on the ice. You need to let your body move like you’ve trained it to.”Chloe Kim, 17 / La Palma, CASnowboardingPEAK PERFORMANCE:…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018LIVING AND LEARNINGThroughout his career, documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson has called attention to vital stories of African American history. His new project, Tell Them We Are Rising (premiering February 19 on PBS), explores a little-known chapter of our country’s past and present: the evolution of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Says Nelson, “For almost 100 years, HBCUs were the biggest driver of black people into the middle class.” That includes his own family: “After my dad graduated from Howard University in the 1930s, he went to dental school—which gave me and my kids the life we have today.” We asked Nelson for an intro course in HBCUs.1900s“During enslavement, African Americans were forbidden to learn to read and write. And white folks were outlawed from teaching them to read and write. But…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018SHAKIN’ AND STIRREDLOOKING BACK, I suppose I’d been hazily aware of it— the way you might recall that before you knew him, the love of your life used to come into the diner where you waitressed. “Oh, I’ve got my Zumba class,” a friend would say, and I’d picture Jane Fonda in a snap-crotch leotard. I had no idea, I want to explain now, the way you want to apologize to everyone who gave birth before you did, when you sent teensy pajamas and best wishes, not understanding that this person had been torn in half and shoved into a black hole of devotion. Not that Zumba is that; it’s more like being in love with the whole world. And to think it was happening to people all around me— when I…4 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018The O List VALENTINE’S EDITIONIsn’t It Romantic?Anyone can send roses, but nothing says “I love you” quite like a bouquet of salami. With a garlicky traditional Italian, a classic French dotted with hazelnuts, a hearty Alsatian pub saucisson spiced with cinnamon and cloves, and three other inspired combinations, this arrangement is carnivore heaven. (Six-stem salami bouquet, originally $85, now 10 percent off with code oprah; olympiaprovisions.com)Lip ServiceThese liquid lipsticks dry to a kiss-proof matte finish while keeping winter chapping at bay, thanks to shea butter, coconut oil, and vitamin E; they’re vegan and cruelty-free, too. If ever there were a moment to put your money where your mouth is... (Clove + Hallow Limited Edition Lip Velvet Trio, originally $45, now 20 percent off with code oprah; cloveandhallow.com)Just for KicksCan’t get anybody to worship at…4 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018What Lies BeneathSUPPORT SYSTEMIt’s the perfect T-shirt bra for a full bust—ranging in size from 38DD to 46DDD. Dreamfit, $11.50; Walmart storesIT’S A SNAPGreat with a blazer, this supersoft cowlneck bodysuit lends a seamless look, no tucking required. $34; felina.comTHE WARM-UPThis shirt, with Heattech fabric, will chase away the chills and is thin enough to go under winter wear. $15; uniqlo.comTAKE A DIPCreate a smooth silhouette for a plunging neckline or a low-back dress. $148; spanx.comRICHARD MAJCHRZAK/STUDIO D. SOFT GOODS STYLING: ANITA SALERNO/R.J. BENNETT REPRESENTS. GLASSMAN: ROBERT TRACHTENBERG.…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Power PLANTSPOMEGRANATEThis superfood does super things for your skin: For starters, it’s a powerful antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals that can cause wrinkles, brown spots, and even skin cancer. And because it contains high levels of ellagic acid, pomegranate is also a great antiinflammatory, says Fred Khoury, a cosmetic chemist in California. “It calms sensitivity and protects against what we call inflammaging—aging accelerated by high levels of inflammation,” Khoury says. Research also suggests the fruit can help smooth wrinkles: In one study, pomegranate extract improved the elasticity and hydration of skin, making it look tighter and firmer. Since it protects and repairs, Khoury recommends using pominfused products in the a.m. and p.m.FIND IT IN: Murad Pore Extractor Pomegranate Mask ($38; murad.com)OATSWhether topped with brown sugar or smoothed over your face, oats really…4 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Tell It LIKE IT IS“A LITTLE CRINKLE in her ear, just like my husband’s. Perfect little fingers, perfect little toes. She was everything we had imagined she would be...except she wasn’t.”Lynn Persin, 41, is at the mic, telling the anguished story of how, late in her third trimester in 2010, she delivered her stillborn daughter. We’re at a community storytelling event in downtown Chicago, and the room is filled with women holding cocktails in one hand and dabbing their eyes with the other. Persin is part of a lineup that includes an office worker turned plus-size model living her dream, a fertility health coach battling infertility herself, and the president of Illinois Storytelling, who recalls how a giant moth stuck behind a hotel room mirror decades ago helped her find meaning in her breast…6 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Custom MEDSIN 2006, A CAR ACCIDENT left Ilyse Nielsen, 41, with debilitating back pain. It hurt to move, never mind walk. In the years that followed, she tried everything from narcotic patches to acupuncture to chiropractic adjustments—to no avail. Then, in 2013, her rehabilitative physician suggested Nielsen try something she hadn’t even known was an option: a cream containing lidocaine, nonnarcotic pain medication, a muscle relaxant, and magnesium. Bingo. “Within 20 minutes of rubbing it in, I could feel my entire back relax,” she says. When she’d taken some of those same medications in pill form, they hadn’t done anything for her. “But when I could apply them directly to where I hurt, it was a whole new world.” Nielsen’s magic ointment was what’s called a compounded drug: a prescription med…3 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Striking OilEssential oils, the earthy darlings of the 1970s, are back—but the modern versions don’t smell like a musty plant. The blends offer fresh scents that promise aromatherapy benefits like a calmer state or a sharper mind. The evidence for these claims isn’t conclusive, but research has linked rosemary and peppermint oils, for example, to increased energy and alertness (Saje’s Energy blend contains both, $20; saje.com). And one small study found that a massage using an oil that included frankincense and lavender reduced pain and depression in cancer patients (the Carry On roll-on blend from 21 Drops has rose and sandalwood as well, $33; 21drops.com). Note that in rare cases, dabbing on an essential oil may cause rashes or inflammation, says Scott T. Hollenbeck, MD, an associate professor of plastic and…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018The Other Nut ButterEveryone’s going nuts for coconut butter, which is made from coconut that’s been ground into a rich, creamy paste. Unlike peanut or almond butter, the coco stuff has a natural sweetness that makes it taste more like a treat than a health food. Yet it’s a source of minerals like manganese, copper, and selenium, says Michelle Dudash, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Carmel, Indiana. It also packs more fiber than almond butter—2 grams in one tablespoon (the recommended daily amount is 25 to 30 grams for women, and most Americans don’t come close). Coconut butter is high in saturated fat (9½ grams per tablespoon), but because of its silky-smooth, drizzle-able, dippable texture, a little goes a long way. Dudash likes to pair it with tropical fruit, such as papayas and…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Nickel and DimedCOPPER AND ZINC combine to make brass, the stuff of earrings and trumpets and doorknobs. Similarly, Xhenet Aliu’s lustrous Brass (Random House) fuses two distinct plot lines: that of Elsie—a young, pregnant waitress in love with Bashkim, an Albanian line cook—and the journey of her daughter, Luljeta, 17 years later, to reconcile the past. The result is a tale alive with humor and gumption, of the knotty, needy bond between a mother and daughter.Elsie and Bashkim’s romance sparks when he tells her, “I swear to Allah, you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.” It turns out to be insincere flattery— for starters, Bashkim is an atheist. And he has a wife he left behind in Albania to start anew in Waterbury, Connecticut, a factory town known as…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Enough SaidTHEY’RE WORDS MOST OF US use all the time, the coinage of daily life: “Yes,” “I know,” “I was wrong”—the words that don’t get in the way of what the other person is trying to communicate, that speak to our capacity to listen. In her new essay collection, Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I’m Learning to Say (Random House), Kelly Corrigan shares her struggle to become fluent in those words, to be her highest and bravest self— to be more compassionate, to connect, to set boundaries, to know when to shut up. In “I Know,” Corrigan reflects on the last weeks in the life of her dying friend, Liz, when all that was left to do was snuggle and cry: “Huddled in the foxhole, Liz and…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018SLEEP IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU EVER DREAMED.YOU KNOW SHUT-EYE is good for you—but when 11 p.m. comes around, it’s so tempting to keep scrolling through Instagram. Sure, I could use more rest, you think. Then again, who couldn’t? Early bedtimes are for second graders. All right, then. If you believe you’re a hardy soul who functions perfectly well on six hours a night (five if there’s a House Hunters marathon), try this: Sit in a quiet, dark room with a pencil in your hand. Set a timer for five minutes and relax.Dropped the pencil? You may have just nodded off. When sleep pressure (the official term for our urge to sleep) builds up, says Hans Van Dongen, PhD, director of the Sleep and Performance Research Center at Washington State University, the brain will grab any opportunity…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018A Sobering ThoughtPOP QUIZ: Worker fatigue is believed to have contributed to which of the following catastrophes?A. The crash of the Exxon ValdezB. The nuclear reactor meltdown at Three Mile IslandC. The explosion of the space shuttle ChallengerD. All of the aboveANSWER: D. Exhausted people are slower to react and less aware of their surroundings, and they operate with impaired judgment—just as one does after having too much to drink. You may not be the head of mission control, but drowsy driving can be as dangerous as getting behind the wheel after ti many martoonis. Consider the numbers:Stuff to Do…□ Get car inspected□ Find my passion in life□ Fight world hunger□ Stay alive long enough to meet grandkids…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018MAXING YOUR RELAXINGProgressive muscle relaxation: Lie down and let your body go loose. Now contract the muscles in your face; hold for about five seconds, then release, feeling the tension flow out of your body. Move down to your neck and repeat. Travel all the way to your toes, contracting and releasing the muscle groups along the way. If you’d like a guided exercise, try the Pacifica app, which includes muscle relaxation and other routines to help you unwind.Abdominal breathing: Take deep belly breaths, inhaling through the nose for three counts and out through the mouth for six.Yoga nidra: Also known as “psychic sleep,” this yogic practice requires nothing more strenuous than lying on your back. Zone out to the sessions in the Insight Timer app: Through guided meditation (during which you…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018IN THE WEE, SMALL HOURSIN HIS POEM “Four in the Morning,” Wislawa Szymborska calls 4 a.m. “The hollow hour. / Blank, empty. / The very pit of all other hours.” If that part of the night regularly finds you excruciatingly alert, you have sleep-maintenance insomnia (as opposed to sleep-onset insomnia, suffered by those who have difficulty falling asleep). Your eyes are popping open because the sleep pressure that built up and eventually led you to fall asleep is now waning, says sleep researcher Michael Grandner, PhD. This pressure mostly dissipates within a couple of hours, leaving you more vulnerable to waking up for prolonged periods during the second half of the night.As sleep-maintenance insomniacs know all too well, those predawn hours are prime time for crafting catastrophic scenarios about nuclear winter or your 401(k).…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018You Snooze, You WinNAPS MAY NOT BE the secret to world peace, but there’s not a lot else they can’t do. Beyond topping off your energy tank, a brief dalliance with unconsciousness can reduce stress, spark creativity, and even fire up your sex drive, says Sara Mednick, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, who’s been studying the relationship between napping and physical, emotional, and cognitive performance for two decades. We asked her for her best advice on how to do it right.ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS. You don’t have time to waste, so off with things that beep, buzz, ring, ding, and otherwise have the power to prematurely rouse you.STRETCH OUT. Whatever accommodations are available to you—a recliner, a spot on the rug in the conference room—make sure you aren’t…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018WHAT DEFINES YOU?Is it your job? Your hometown? Your love of ’70s soft rock?We’d like to suggest that it’s something more elemental—a force that guides your decisions, shapes your perceptions, and roots you in your truth. If you’re ready to set aside your assumptions and open your mind to who you might really be, turn the page....EACH OF US WALKS THE EARTH wearing invisible labels on our chests. If we’re lucky, the ones bestowed upon us feel comfortably correct, and we never chafe against their limitations. If we’re not, we may spend years of agony (and countless hard-earned dollars) trying to escape the way we’re classified— to outrun what the world thinks it knows. Of course, not all those labels are applied to us by outside forces; we’re hardwired to categorize ourselves,…8 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018LOVE AND MERCYWHEN MY MOTHER, Anita, died, I felt relieved. I was 32, and I’d had the same reaction when my father, George, passed away 16 years earlier. Their deaths—my mother’s from alcoholism, my father’s from a car accident in Ukraine— were ugly. And I welcomed them.My parents were intellectuals whose careers allowed them to travel the world, but that’s not how I experienced them. My father was cold and verbally abusive; my mother failed to protect me from his rage, even when she was sober. Tenderness between them was in short supply— they barely seemed to like each other. I saw myself as a casualty of their abundant flaws: My low self esteem was the result of my father’s violent temper; my anxiety, the product of my mother’s addiction.But while cleaning…3 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Fast or FancyThe FancyToppings are the stars of the nacho game, but the best piles start with good chips—like the heavenly fresh version shown here. For ultimate sophistication, finish yours off with homemade cheese sauce and replace ground meat with succulent spiced shrimp.CHILI-LIME SHRIMP NACHOSMAKES 4 TO 6 SERVINGSTOTAL TIME: 25 MINUTESIn a medium bowl, toss 1 pound shrimp with 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil, 1½ tsp. chili powder, and ¼ tsp. kosher salt. In a large skillet over high heat, cook shrimp, stirring occasionally, until bright pink, about 4 minutes. Stir in 1 Tbsp. lime juice and turn off heat. Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter. Add 2 Tbsp. flour and whisk constantly for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in 2 cups whole milk. When it starts…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018BEST TRESSEDOprah is a woman of many moods— and hairdos. For each of this month’s three covers, stylist Nicole Mangrum created a transformative look using wigs and hairpieces. Oprah unleashed her inner Diana Ross with a curly mane, while a textured ponytail with pink, magenta, and purple accents brought unexpected edge. “I’m kind of liking it,” Oprah said at the shoot. “The fact that I’m now turning to pink means the world is changing.” The trifecta was complete with a sassy shag that gave Oprah her fringe back, prompting our cover girl to quip, “I haven’t had bangs since 1992!”1 CURLS ON CURLSGet the LookApply curl cream to wet hair, then use a diffuser to dry and add body, says Mangrum.Create curls or accentuate existing ones by wrapping sections around a…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Here We Go!IN MY LIFE, I’ve been a grocery store clerk, a pageant queen, a radio newscaster, a talk show host, an advocate for girls, and a kale-chip enthusiast, but I wouldn’t say those things define me. What you do—or for that matter, how you talk or walk or dress—isn’t who you are. And who you are today may not be who you are tomorrow, because people can learn and change and grow.This month we’re doing a deep dive into identity— spotlighting people who dare to find, and be, themselves, and challenging ourselves to see beyond our own preconceptions and snap judgments when dealing with others (page 96). For some fascinating perspective on all of it, I sat down with the wise and wonderful RuPaul; I think you’ll be mesmerized by what…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Fur-ward ThinkingSHOCK AND PAWCats might be content to spend hours alone, but they still need to play. That’s why Tara O’Mara and her husband, Jason, invented Shru, a rechargeable toy that rolls and wiggles on its own. When your cat traps Shru, it shakes and then stops moving to imitate real prey—giving your mighty homebound hunter the thrill of victory. ($98; pdxpetdesign.com)LIGHT-FOOTEDIn 2010, Joseph Hassan’s friend Betty and her dog, Comet, were almost hit by a car during a nighttime run. The close call inspired Hassan to create a tether that lights up from handle to collar: The battery-powered Nitey Leash uses an LED light that shines through a fiber-optic tube to make you and your pooch visible up to a quarter mile away. ($25; niteyleash.com)DOOR BUSTERSUninvited felines kept slinking through…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Renée Elise GOLDSBERRYBEST DREAM ROLE“Jazz singer Sarah Vaughan. She had the most beautiful voice ever created. I learned how to sing by imitating her!”BEST BROADWAY SOUVENIRI always have the entire cast from any production I’m in sign the show’s poster. The Hamilton cast made fun of me for having them all hanging in my dressing room—but to me, it’s a celebration of family. You may leave a show, but you never leave that family.BEST MOM MOMENTThe everyday things: bedtime prayers and breakfasts and baths. Those moments are even more important when you work a lot. The only question my kids ever ask me is, “Are you picking us up from school today?” So while I’m always trying to do big and wonderful things for them—birthday parties, holiday stuff—what really matters is their…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018To Bleat or Not to BleatDear Lisa,I’m an emotional person and I see nothing wrong with having a good cry. But according to my yearly review, it makes people in the office uncomfortable. I never gave it much thought—if your boss is particularly lacerating or someone gets nasty, crying seems like a natural response. It’s not as if I’m wailing at the top of my lungs every day. Isn’t it okay to get weepy on occasion?—WENDY, ALABAMADear sob sister,Of course it is, and here are the occasions: (1) a daughter’s wedding, (2) a parent’s funeral, (3) virtually all toe stubbings, bikini waxings, onion choppings, and commercials in which a soldier comes home from Iraq to brew a deeply satisfying cup of coffee and surprise his dog.I don’t think cutting people to shreds is the most…4 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018GREAT BUYS UNDER $100SPRING FEVERSpotted: a dozen trends to help you kick off the season in style.1 ATHLUXEThe grown-up way to do sporty: mixing a windbreaker with a sleek pencil skirt and an edgy loafer.2 Wild SideAs O creative director Adam Glassman says, leopard print is actually a neutral. So no need to play the match game: It goes well with a ton of shades and trends. Really!3 Red AlertThe handbag color of the season: Yes, it’s bold, but surprisingly versatile. Have some extra fun by adding a statement strap.4 WELL-HEELEDChicer than ever (especially in metallic), the sensible kitten heel can take you from day to dinner and dancing.5 Standout StripesGet in line with modern silhouettes that mix tones and band widths. And don’t forget—elongating vertical stripes are your figure’s friend.6 Ruffled UpTake…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018EAU LA LAPerfumers are expanding the idea of what’s sexy in fragrance, combining notes in surprising ways that have the allure of the unfamiliar. Bright bergamot and white musk pair intriguingly with heady orchid in Annick Goutal Nuit et Confidences ($190 for 3.4 ounces; us.annickgoutal.com). Date nights are more enticing with the Indian ginger and Turkish tobacco leaf in By Terry Délectation Splendide ($220 for 3.4 ounces; barneys.com). Giorgio Armani Sì Passione ($116 for 3.4 ounces; armanibeauty.com) blends rose and jasmine with sensual woods and adds the zip of pink pepper. And Aura Mugler ($125 for 3 ounces; mugler.com) gives fresh botanicals—rhubarb leaf, orange blossom—a sultry twist with bourbon vanilla. Treat yourself to one of these jewel-tone gems this Valentine’s Day!…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018DYE HAPPYBETTER BOXED DYE1 Clairol Nice’n Easy Care Color ($8; drugstores)WHY WE LOVE IT✓ Free of common scalp irritants✓ Fresh nonammonia smellIf you’re part of the small percentage of women with an allergy to haircolor, you know fates far worse than streaky highlights or uneven patches. One of the ingredients commonly used to make permanent color last longer—paraphenylenediamine (PPD)—has been known to leave some women’s scalps red and irritated, says cosmetic chemist Erica Douglas. Now there’s an alternative: Clairol’s at-home formula delivers vibrant color with staying power but swaps PPD (and the chemically similar para-toluenediamine, PTD) for a revolutionary molecule designed to reduce the risk of developing an allergy to the dye. (If you have a sensitive scalp, consult your dermatologist before trying any new product.)REPARATIVE SALON FORMULA2 Wella Professionals Wellaplex…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018GET YOUR STORY STRAIGHTBe specific. “Details make people fall in love with your story,” says Andy Raskin, a strategic messaging expert in San Francisco who’s led storytelling workshops for Uber and Yelp. Don’t say, “I decided to switch careers”; set the scene: “I was working for a PR firm that planned parties. Before one event, my boss started screaming because there wasn’t an equal amount of confetti on each table. I had to recount and resprinkle all the stars. That’s when I thought, Maybe this isn’t the right job for me....”Jump around in time. Create suspense by bringing something from the end of your story up to the beginning. (Raskin calls it “teasing the promised land.”) This type of foreshadowing compels the listener to stay with you.Don’t bury the lede. Humor helps because…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Time for a HEART-TO-HEARTWHEN I STARTED seeing K. last year, she was at the top of her game. At 54, she was a newlywed and a powerhouse at work who exercised and ate healthily. Yet she’d recently had a sudden onset of chest pain at the office. After undergoing a battery of tests at the hospital, she was diagnosed with high blood pressure. K. was shocked. How could she have felt so good and still be facing such danger?Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the umbrella term for disorders of the heart and blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, heart attack, problems with the structure of the heart, abnormal heart rhythms, and stroke. It is the leading killer of American women, taking more lives each year than all cancers combined. CVD could happen to you,…3 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Well LivedFEET FIRSTAs if a thick shearling lining weren’t cozy enough, this moccasin has a built-in orthotic that conforms to your foot, offering arch support and stability for hard-core lounging. (Abeo Halifax slipper, $110; thewalkingcompany.com)SOUPER FOODDaily Harvest is a mail-order service delivering ready-to-heat vegan soups loaded with soothing, whole-food ingredients in flavor-packed combos like Carrot + Coconut Curry and Turmeric + Lemongrass. ($48 for six cups per week; daily-harvest.com)WRAP OF LUXURYPlush robes shouldn’t be reserved for spas. Be kind to yourself (and the planet) every day with this incredibly soft indoor-outdoor dream, made from sustainable beechwood fibers. (Bleusalt Malibu est. 2017 duster, $349; bleusalt.com)ROSE GOLD STANDARDGet your fill of immunity-boosting (and glow-promoting) antioxidants with this near-silent beauty that lets you quickly whip up veggie juices, smoothies, and fruit-based frozen treats. (HZ…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018SHOULD SHE OR SHOULDN’T SHE?Fire Sermon, by Jamie Quatro (Grove Press), kicks off with a question: “Shall we walk back?” It’s a provocative first line: a mere four words suggesting a multitude of meanings. To walk back is to return, to retrace one’s steps, but also to de-escalate, to yield, to change one’s mind. In this context, it’s an invitation from one character to another: James is asking Maggie to come back to his place. Though they’re married to different people and haven’t yet slept together, they’re already a “we.” And James’s opening salvo isn’t just a bit of dialogue—it’s a map for the whole novel, which autopsies an extramarital romance, gradually excising the damage done.This is a love that grew from likeness: Maggie and James share an affinity for poetry and theology. They’re…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018THE UNVARNISHED TRUTHJEANNE THEOHARIS’S A More Beautiful and Terrible History (Beacon Press) attempts to reclaim the civil rights narrative from the mythology that has enveloped it, reminding us how profoundly disruptive the fight for racial equality really is, and suggesting “lessons for long-distance runners in the struggle for racial and social justice today.” Martin Luther King Jr. comes into particular focus (as does Rosa Parks, the subject of Theoharis’s previous book), recast here not as the gentle saint of our collective consciousness, but more accurately as an agitator and radical. Here we get the King who had a 72 percent unfavorable rating among white Americans in a 1966 Gallup poll; the King who said “the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not… the Ku Klux Klanner, but the…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018CODAIF WALT WHITMAN was intoxicated by America, Denis Johnson was hungover and reaching for some hair of the dog. The writer’s posthumous collection, The Largesse of the Sea Maiden (Random House), is a tour de force of compression and prowess, teasing out pure melodies from dissonant American dreams. Johnson’s lifelong affinity for doomed outsiders remains evident here, as does his brilliance at experimenting with form. An ad exec assesses his life in a jigsawlike novella. An addict in rehab duels with past demons through a series of manic letters. And in an especially virtuosic turn— linked stories within a story— an aging author wanders a graveyard of the mind, recounting loved ones’ deaths while staring down his own. Throughout, a dark lyricism prevails, with echoes of Johnson’s mentor, Raymond Carver.…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Anatomy of an InsomniacBRAINThe longer you’re awake, the more a chemical called adenosine builds up, making you feel increasingly drowsy. If you don’t snooze, your brain will become less active, causing lapses in attention and focus.HEARTHealthy adults who sleep five or fewer hours per night are 50 percent more likely to have stiffer blood vessels and arterial plaque buildup than people who get seven hours; those changes can increase their risk of cardiovascular disease.MUSCLESToo little sleep can lead the brain to release hormones that impair muscle growth, inhibiting recovery after exercise or injury.G.I. SYSTEMProlonged disrupted sleep causes immune cells to secrete inflammatory substances that can exacerbate G.I. issues such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. (Digestive conditions can also keep you up at night.)COLONPeople who sleep fewer than six hours a night have…3 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Turn Your Bedroom into a Sleep CaveFANWhite noise is the kind of consistent sound that lulls you to sleep. Try a white noise machine or Goldstein’s favorite form of steady sound: a fan. Not only is the whir relaxing, but you’ll also stay cool, another key factor for a restful night.ALARM CLOCKRed or amber displays are better than blue or green since warmer hues are less disruptive. If your wake-up call comes from your phone, set it to Do Not Disturb so you’re not prematurely woken by lights or sounds.MATTRESSIf you have back problems, you may favor a firmer mattress. If you sleep hot, you may prefer conventional coils—they typically don’t trap heat the way many foam ones do. Still, there’s no strong science proving one type of mattress is ideal for sleep, so stick with…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018SLEEP OR ELSE?!?!THERE YOU ARE AGAIN, staring at the ceiling, and the sandman cometh not. You’re calculating how many hours you’d get if you conked out right now, fearing you’ll be a hideous, baggy-eyed, mumbling, bumbling zombie all day tomorrow. If you’re one of the 15 million to 25 million Americans who have chronic insomnia—meaning you’ve had difficulty falling or staying asleep three or more times per week for at least three months, a condition that disproportionately affects women (blame hormones, depression, anxiety)—you’re familiar with the bitter irony. “The more you can’t sleep, the more you think about the fact that you can’t sleep. It becomes a vicious cycle,” says Reena Mehra, MD, of the Sleep Disorders Center at Cleveland Clinic.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is as effective as prescription drugs (if…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018HOW TO HELP YOUR BODY HELP YOU SLEEPSet a bedtime alarm.If you feel a sudden surge of energy about 30 minutes before bedtime, resist the urge to read another chapter or play just a few more minutes of Animal Crossing. You’re perking up because your core temperature is beginning to drop as your body prepares for sleep. “As your body cools, it’s common to feel more energetic,” says Michael Breus, PhD, a clinical psychologist and diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine who advises patients to ignore that second wind and create a “powerdown hour.” Set an alarm to go off 60 minutes before your bedtime, preferably on a clock (your phone alarm is easier to ignore). Use the first 20 minutes to wrap things up (finish emails, find everyone’s shoes, pack tomorrow’s lunch). The next…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018VISION QUESTI WAS IN SCOTLAND, helping my stepfather tend his rhododendron garden, when a crystal chandelier suddenly dropped out of the clear blue sky and crushed him Wile E. Coyote– style. I went to find help, but after walking for hours, I somehow ended up on Mount Everest. Feeling chilly, I looked down and saw I was wearing only a geometric-print halter bikini— odd, not only because it was wildly inappropriate for mountaineering, but also because it looked exactly like a suit I’d resisted buying at Target the week before.Then I woke up.For as long as I can remember, I’ve had vivid dreams that make me feel like the protagonist of a fully immersive, eight-hour Terry Gilliam movie—every night. After comparing notes with my husband and friends and realizing that no…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018ASK ME ANYTHINGONE AFTERNOON my 3-year-old asks if we are black. “Actually, we’re brown,” I tell him, keeping my voice neutral. “What’s that?” he asks. “What’s what?” I reply, stalling. He narrows his eyes at me. “Mommy, what are you?” It’s the question I hate most, and here it is, being spoken by my toddler.What I am is American—born in Canada, raised in Atlanta, naturalized at 14—and I signal American, too, from my Gap jeans to the upspeak that makes me sound more Valley girl than Indus Valley. And yet for 39 years, strangers have asked where I am from, and when the answer fails to satisfy— as will my answer to their inevitable follow-up, “But where were you born?”—this uglier question pops out: “What are you?” It’s the silent question animating…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Sweet SOMETHINGSPeppermint Cream-Puff HugsMAKES 36 CREAM PUFFSACTIVE TIME: 35 MINUTESTOTAL TIME: 2 HOURS1½ sticks (¾ cups) unsalted butter¼ tsp. salt1 cup all-purpose flour4 large eggs8 ounces semisweet chocolate⅓ cup sugar3 Tbsp. unsalted butter1½ tsp. vanilla extract36 mini-scoops peppermint (or preferred flavor) ice cream (from 4 pints)1. Heat oven to 425°. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring 1 cup water, butter, and salt to a boil, stirring until butter is melted. Reduce heat to medium. Add flour all at once and cook, beating with a large wooden spoon, until mixture pulls away from side of pan and forms a ball, about 30 seconds. Transfer mixture to a bowl and cool slightly, about 2 minutes.2. Using a mixer, add eggs one at a…6 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018TOP OF THE MorningCONFESSION: I’ve always had a sweet tooth—I can devour four cupcakes in one sitting. When I became an athlete, though, I started to see food as fuel that gave me the nutrients I needed to perform at my best, which meant cutting out most processed ingredients, sugars, and anything else that didn’t benefit my body. Although I no longer compete in the boxing ring, I’ve continued to view my diet as a bridge to vitality. So what’s a dessert-devoted girl to do? Make healthier treats, of course. These sweet and spiced muffins are moist and hearty, and give a delicious jump-start to your day.Maca, Carrot, and Cinnamon MuffinsPreheat oven to 350°. Line 10 cups of a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners or grease with cooking spray. Sift 1 cup…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Q What have you been surprised to discover about yourself?That I’m content with being single in my mid-40s. After a lengthy marriage followed by multiple relationships, I’ve found true happiness in being on my own.YVONNE N. COSIO Menifee, CaliforniaThat I really can cook–in spite of the D I got in home economics when I was 13!SHERRY LAWRENCE Sarasota, FloridaAfter a lifetime of trying to embrace my body’s flaws, I unexpectedly found something to love when my husband took pictures of me in an off-the-shoulder dress. I have great collarbones!DYANN NASHTON Oneida, New YorkTHAT IF MY HEART REALLY WANTS SOMETHING, LIKE U2 TICKETS, I SHOULD GO FOR IT. I’M MUCH HAPPIER WHEN I DO.SUSAN BLACK ALLEN Oceanside, CaliforniaI’m stronger than I thought. I’ve always been afraid of public speaking and confrontation. Now that I have daughters, when I see something…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018The Gratitude MeterMAIL BONDINGSome dogs snarl at delivery people—and some want to slobber all over them. The latter are celebrated on UPS Dogs, a Facebook page documenting the bond between UPS truck drivers and the pups they meet (and occasionally treat) on the road. (facebook.com/upsdogs)COMMUNITY COLLAGELena Waithe’s new Showtime series, The Chi (January 7), brings the actor-writer (and recent Emmy winner for comedy writing on Master of None) back to her Chicago roots in what feels like a love letter to her hometown.MUNCH TIMEYour fire is roaring, your well-defined couch dent is calling, and there are 201 episodes of The Office waiting to be screened. Cap off the coziness with the gourmet Binge Watch Bundle from Philadelphia’s Di Bruno Bros. It packs a smoky Gouda spread blended with a splash of beer,…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018The Great Pix FixWould a female construction worker really wear a crop top and peep-toe heels? Would a woman go on a bike ride in a lacy thong? No and no. But depictions of that sort still appear all around us because the world of stock photos, the generic pictures that thousands of brands pay to use in ads and magazines and on billboards, has been slow to evolve. “The photography industry has traditionally been run by straight white dudes,” says Pam Grossman, director of visual trends at Getty Images, one of the world’s best-known stock photo houses. “But with social media, women are sharing pictures of their lives that are more inclusive—which has led clients to ask for more authentic images. Part of my job is broadening what beauty and power can…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GayleTUNE INOn February 4, Justin Timberlake will take the Super Bowl stage for a third time—and this one will probably be the most meaningful to him. Why? Because he’s the headliner for Super Bowl LII’s halftime show, rather than a guest act. There’s a ton of speculation about whether he’ll bring Janet Jackson onstage (my guess: he won’t) or reunite with his old ’NSYNC crew (my guess: he will), but the Grammy winner’s impressive list of danceable hits makes him a showstopper no matter what. Break a leg in Minneapolis, Justin!WATCHWhen it comes to making terrific movies, director Ryan Coogler already has two winners, and I’m betting he’ll soon be three for three. First there was Fruitvale Station, then Creed, and now comes Marvel’s Black Panther, with Chadwick Boseman leading…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018THE NATURE OF THE BEASTTHE BACKSTORYDixie Laite, 55, is in a slump. Laid off in 2015 from her job as an editorial director for a TV network, she’s currently a self-employed writer and brand consultant—but now that she has flexible hours, she’s spending a lot of time on the couch. Her energy is low, her spirits are lower, and despite reading “hundreds” of motivational books, she just can’t shed her existential malaise (or the 40 pounds she’s gained).Fortunately, O’s life coach, Martha Beck, is here to help Dixie locate her missing purpose. First Martha advised her new client to quiet her racing mind and pay attention to her physical sensations. Though Dixie’s not a fan of meditation, she gamely agreed to take some deep breaths as Martha led her to focus intently on one…6 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Adam’s STYLE SHEETGIVE A LITTLEBlazers can be constricting, but there’s nothing stiff about this one. It has four-way stretch yet maintains a smooth shape. Plus, it’s machine washable. Rafaella, $100; lordandtaylor.comSOLE PROVIDERSick of switching from walking shoes to work shoes? This sleek slip-on, with a special removable padded sole that molds to your foot, does double duty. Nic + Zoe, $160; available February 28 at nicandzoe.comBLACKOUTNo one wants to be caught unintentionally showing some skin through their leggings. There’s no chance with this ponte pair—they’re completely opaque. R Label by TheReset.com, $125; thereset.comGOOD JEANSEach pair in the NYDJ Curves 360 collection is designed to enhance your shape. Boost uplifts, Shape slims, and Sculpt contours. From left: Boost, $129, Shape, $119, and Sculpt, $119; available in sizes 00 to 28 at nydj.comGO WITH…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Calm“The scent of eucalyptus always puts me in a Zen-like state. I keep fresh sprigs in a vase or add a few drops of the essential oil to a bath.”—BRIAN UNDERWOOD, O beauty directorCLOSE YOUR EYES, inhale deeply, exhale slowly. If that mini meditation doesn’t take the edge off, one of these delightful new beauty finds may do the trick. Body products infused with the comforting scent of lavender or vanilla are a delicious way to help quiet an overactive mind. You can relieve angry skin with a hyaluronic acid– spiked eye treatment, or pat on a sheet mask and relax while your complexion soaks up the goodness. Color experts swear that cool hues are soothing to look at: Dab a pale turquoise shadow on your lids or paint your…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Michelle WolfQ: You’ve talked about how people have assumed you’re African American even though you’re white—do you get that a lot?A: I didn’t until I moved to New York. I think it was actually a pickup line once. But even now on some of my Instagram posts, people will ask, “Are you black or white?”Q: Do you feel awkward about answering?A: The more we’re open to talking about race, the better. A lot of white people shy away from discussing it, but we need to. I think a lot of us are just ignorant, and sometimes there’s no other way to learn than by putting your own foot in your mouth.Q: You also get a lot of comments from Daily Show viewers about your hair. Why do you think that is?A:…3 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018What Have You Done for Your Uterus LATELY?ANYONE WHO’S SUFFERED the worst of fibroid symptoms— excruciating periods, agonizing lower back pain, bloating, constipation, a constant need to urinate, the blood— understands that the uterus can have a huge impact on a woman’s quality of life. Black and white women have the highest risk of developing fibroids—benign uterine tumors— by age 50 (80 and 70 percent, respectively). And more than 60,000 women per year are diagnosed with cancer of the uterine lining (endometrial cancer). The good news is, there are several ways to help keep your uterus in great shape.…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018BLAZING TRAILSGIRLTREKIn 2012, after noticing many of their loved ones were in physical and emotional crisis, friends T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison started the nonprofit GirlTrek, “a national walking community”—now nearly 117,000 members strong— designed to help black women and girls get healthier together (research has shown a lack of social support may be a major barrier to exercise for black women). “Walking helps reduce the risk of heart disease and also improves mental health; plus, our events give women a chance to discuss and solve problems,” says Garrison.Just do itSign up at girltrek.com to find or host walks near you. Routes range from one-mile strolls to brisk 5Ks, and everyone is encouraged to walk at her own pace.BLACK GIRLS RUN!Toni Carey discovered the healing power of running when it…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018SICK OF FEELING STIFF?IF YOU CAN hear your joints pop and creak when you move, that usually means the surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments are tight or underused. The right stretching exercises can help increase flexibility and, more important, mobility. This means you have full range of motion in multiple joints, and it feels great (not dangerous) to stretch in different directions. The benefits go way beyond your yoga class: Improving your range of motion reduces your chances of pulling a muscle when you do things like reach into the back seat or suddenly leap sideways to avoid a puddle, says Cris Dobrosielski, a certified personal trainer, owner of Monumental Results in San Diego, and spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise: “You want your body to be ready for the movements you…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018Girl, InterruptedLUCIA BOK, the achingly troubled character at the heart of Mira T. Lee’s Everything Here Is Beautiful (Pamela Dorman Books/Viking), is recently out of grad school and working at a newspaper until she begins to babble “on about serpents and spies.” Soon after, Lucia is found sitting atop a manhole cover, disoriented and singing. She’s involuntarily committed to a hospital psych ward for a month. Her disorder, never officially diagnosed in the novel, haunts her for the rest of her life and terrifies all who care about her. But between descents into psychosis, Lucia’s fierce passions—for New York City; for her sister and their dying Chinese immigrant mother; for the men she loves; for her daughter, Esperanza; for the Peking duck and spareribs she was raised on—are impossible for anyone,…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018IN TREATMENT“It started out bad, like before, being injected with drugs, being thrown into seclusion a couple of times. HELL, one night they even handcuffed him to the bed. He yanked and jerked but couldn’t break free. All he could move was his head. He could see that the guy in the bed next to him was shackled, too. Some orderlies came in and shot the guy full of something and an hour later, Bob watched the rise and fall of the guy’s chest stop altogether. In the morning, the orderlies came in and put a sheet over the corpse. As they wheeled it away, Bob could hear them laughing.”—From A Kind of Mirraculas Paradise: A True Story About Schizophrenia, by Sandra Allen (Scribner)…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 201810 TITLES TO PICK UP NOWWhen They Call You a Terroristby Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Asha BandeleWhat you don’t condemn, you condone—and so we protest. That’s the message of this fierce, intimate memoir by a cofounder of Black Lives Matter that sheds light on how a movement was born.Off the Charts: The Hidden Lives and Lessons of American Child Prodigiesby Ann HulbertPart ode to young genius, part indictment of helicopter parenting, Hulbert’s crisply written account of überachieving kids probes our own complicated obsessions with talent and the need to stand out.The Art of Mysteryby Maud CaseyThe author of three novels, Casey here explores how fiction writers from Kafka to Coetzee make use of the unexpected and unknown to restore our capacity for wonder and even thaw “the frozen seas of our souls.”Wild Is the Wind: Poemsby…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018EMOTIONAL RESCUEYOUR HUSBAND SNIPES that you forgot to pay the Visa bill again, and the sobs start to build in your throat. Does he think you’re an idiot? Everything’s gone wrong today! On top of that, you’ve tossed and turned three nights in a row, and now your eyeballs feel as if they’ve been rolled in sand. You fear you may be losing your grip. What is going on?When we’re tired, we feel less equipped to handle life—because we are less equipped to handle life. Getting too little sleep can affect our powers of emotional control and regulation, as well as our ability to think a few steps ahead. These higher-level functions, managed by an area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, begin to shut down when we’re insufficiently rested.…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018THE A-B-ZZZ’SNO MIRACLE MANTRA or ingenious gadget will give you a better night’s rest if you’re not following the basic principles of sleep hygiene. The good news: They’re simple. The bad news: They’re not necessarily easy, especially if you like to reward yourself at the end of a long day with an extended session of screen time and Chardonnay. But keep your eyes on the prize! Better rest makes you feel more vital, alert, and present in your life, which is the greatest reward of all. Here's the drill:Wake up and go to bed at the same time every day. Yes, even on weekends. “Your brain does nothing accidentally,” says W. Chris Winter, MD, a neurologist in Charlottesville, Virginia, and author of The Sleep Solution. “It likes everything scheduled so it…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018A Bitter PillABOUT 4 PERCENT of adults in the U.S. take a prescription sleeping pill in any given month, according to a 2013 report from the CDC. While pills can help regulate your sleep for short periods—say, while you’re in Europe for a week—they can impair your functioning the next day, sometimes in ways you don’t even recognize. “Sleeping pills can basically make you lose consciousness, which will have side effects for the brain,” says Michael Grandner, PhD, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Many sleep meds slow brain activity by binding to the same neural receptors targeted by Valium, Xanax, and some types of anesthesia. Since the drugs suppress motor movement, they may leave you uncoordinated and accidentprone the next morning.…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018BEDTIME SNACKSYou know not to feast right before hitting the sack (two to four hours is the ideal gap between dinner and bedtime, says psychologist Michael Breus, PhD), but an empty, rumbling tummy can also make it hard to nod off. Instead of going to bed hungry, Breus recommends having a few bites. Here's help finding your snacking sweet spot.SKIPTURKEYYes, turkey contains tryptophan—an amino acid—but not enough to make a noticeable difference. “You’d probably have to eat around eight or nine pounds of it to get the drowsy effect,” says Breus. (Your post-Thanksgiving sleepiness is primarily induced by carbs.)CHOCOLATEThe decadent favorite contains substances that may trigger production of dopamine, a feelgood neurotransmitter that promotes wakefulness.PIZZACraving a latenight slice? In one study published in Frontiers in Psychology, subjects reported that greasy, cheese-laden,…1 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018WHERE ARE YOU GOING?HAILEY KILGORE, Broadway phenomIn the SpotlightWhen I was in third grade, my parents went to a conference with my teacher, who said: “Hailey often goes to the bathroom and stays in there for long periods of time. I went to check on her the other day, and she was singing. She sings in class, too. I don’t think she even realizes she’s doing it.” Instead of disciplining me, the teacher and my parents got me piano lessons, put me in a choir, and found me a voice coach.Singing was how I coped. A year earlier, I had realized I was adopted. I guess it shouldn’t have been a surprise, given that my parents are both white. But it hadn’t sunk in until a friend said, “You and your dad don’t…2 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018COME AS YOU AREAt roughly seven feet tall—when you count the stilettos and altitudinous wig—RuPaul is a dazzling, ebullient tornado of fierceness. But what’s more impressive is his multi-decade career, during which he’s brought drag to the mainstream. His Emmy-winning, eminently quotable show, RuPaul’s Drag Race, is scheduled to begin its tenth season this spring; he has released 11 dance-pop albums; and he was the first drag queen to land a cosmetics campaign (with MAC). He’s also preached a gospel of self-love and tolerance that has permeated American culture: Even your mother is probably using the phrase “You better work” by now. Fascinated by his ability to defy categorization and spark vital conversation about identity, Oprah sat down with the 57-year-old for a much-needed kiki*.* A laugh-filled chat between friends.If you have the…8 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018SINGULAR SensationWhy We Love ItOur attachment to coffee is as strong as a double espresso. So why limit its delights to the cup? The beloved bean’s toasty, robust taste also works wonders in hearty sauces, spice rubs, marinades, chilies, and more. Your dinner likely won’t be caffeinated enough to keep you awake, but that doesn’t mean the flavor won’t rouse your appetite.Use brewed coffee in stews or sauces. Grounds, which tend to stay grainy, work better in marinades and rubs.Replace half of your banana smoothie liquid with cold brew coffee for a rich morning buzz.Coffee stays freshest when stored in a cool, dark, dry place (like your pantry) in an opaque, airtight container.Try dissolving a teaspoon of espresso powder into your brownie batter (or other chocolaty treat) to supercharge the chocolate…4 min
O, The Oprah Magazine|February 2018What I Know for SureWHAT DEFINES YOU? It’s a big and important question indeed. The answer sets the course for everything that follows.What defines me determines how far I see myself growing and the boundaries I won’t cross in order to get there. I will not do anything that willfully causes harm to another person.What defines me is answering the call to Truth—capital T—in every moment. That’s why small talk makes me jittery. It feels fake, like we’re just pretending to have a conversation. I have such an aversion to it, I go numb inside. I can’t look people in the eye because the whole time I’m thinking it’s so beneath us to be talking about trivial things when our world is burning.I actively work to make sure everything I do, say, promote, or…3 min