Oprah Says As A Child She Didn’t Believe She’d Live Long Enough To See Her 60s

Oprah Says As A Child She Didn’t Believe She’d Live Long Enough To See Her 60s

Media maven Oprah Winfrey thought bleakly about her future at a young age.

Oprah Winfrey, who celebrated turning 70 in January, discussed the milestone on The Today Show with famed news anchor Al Roker, as she helped him bring in his own 70th birthday. Recalling a time when she didn’t think she’d make it to this point in her life, Oprah Winfrey stated:

“I was excited to make the number [70]. I’m excited to make every number…I remember many, many years ago as a young girl, I always thought I would never make it to the 60s or 70s. I had this number in my head that I thought, ‘Okay, I’m going to be out by then.’”

She added:

“I don’t know why…I think I had a vision of it when I was a kid and I think it is because under the circumstances that I was living [in] when I was a little girl in Milwaukee on welfare with my mother.”

Winfrey has been very forward in the past when speaking about the struggles of her upbringing. Born to single mother Vernita Lee in 1954, the self-made billionaire grew up in poverty living in Mississippi, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Tennessee at various points throughout her childhood.

Additionally, Winfrey has been known to speak candidly about being a victim of sexual abuse. The Oscar-nominated actress was assaulted repeatedly by a family member and has since continued to advocate for the safety of children against sexual predators.

Continuing in the interview, Winfrey made it clear that if she never had a shift in her environment, the outcome of her life probably would’ve turned out the way she thought it would as a child. She stated:

“What I now know is if I had stayed in those circumstances, I probably wouldn’t be here, healthy and strong and vibrant.” 

Oprah Winfrey

Winfrey also gave some words of encouragement to Al Roker, urging him not to be “scared” of aging, adding that growing older has led her to “a sense of urgency”  to live well, further stating:

“And so that’s all about health.”

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