Innehållsförteckning för Special #1 2023 från O, Quarterly

I’m thinking that a better question is “Who are you meant to be… right now?” I’ve always said that one of the most powerful questions is “Who are you meant to be?” But after the past few years, I’m thinking that a better question is “Who are you meant to be…right now?” It’s not just because so much has changed in the world—though it has—or because we’ve had to shift so much—though we definitely had to do that—but also because no matter what’s happening out there, we’re constantly evolving on the inside, too. Maybe after years of focus on the next accomplishment or the next promotion, you’re realizing that you want to take the expertise you’ve acquired and apply it in a completely different sphere. Or instead dial your job…

So much of my buoyant, beautiful optimism shriveled one night due to a strapless bra. You would not think this could happen. I was in Paris for work. (Paris!) I was newly and happily separated. (Happily!) I was scheduled to go on a date with a poet. (A poet!) As it happened, the morning before the date the temperature in the City of Light skyrocketed to 103 degrees. I fled to the aisles of Monoprix, the French version of Walmart, to buy a light blue sundress that was long and flowy and cooling—and would not show sweat stains while I was sitting in a romantic, un-air-conditioned café. In the dressing room, I looked charming and summery. Back in my Airbnb, I looked dumpy. The straps of the dress were skinny,…

1. Estée Lauder Blushing Sands Eau de Parfum An aroma that’s bright, woody, and spicy with vetiver, pink pepper, and musk. ($100 for 1.35 oz.; esteelauder.com) 2. Krigler Good Fir 11 Eau de Parfum A cologne-like spritz inspired by the crisp, pine-scented air of Colorado. It blends earthy moss (in place of pine, which can be an allergen) with ginger and sultry musk. ($455 for 1.7 oz.; krigler.com) 3. Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 + Patchouli A soft, clean patchouli oil that’s had its more pungent note removed—it’s not your college dorm’s patchouli. ($145 for 3.4 oz.; us.escentric.com) 4. Riddle Santal Roll-on Perfume Oil A sensual spin on sandalwood, with a mix of spicy cardamom, warm amber, and orchid plus the garden-y aromas of cassis and orchid. ($58 for 0.3 oz.; riddleoil.com) 5. Phlur Somebody Wood…

1. Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey Eau & Magnolia Eau de Toilette A pairing of sun-kissed dewy flowers and damp, silky skin thanks to watery accords and a sandalwood base. ($115 for 3.3 oz.; macys.com) 2. Maison Margiela Fragrances Replica Matcha Meditation Eau de Toilette A soothing and herbal spritz with notes of green tea, matcha, and bergamot mixed with creamy white flowers and a hint of moss. ($144 for 3.4 oz.; sephora.com) 3. Liis Floating Eau de Parfum A soft and delicate scent with slightly zesty, fruity vibes; it’s made with a blend of peach, bergamot, wild orchid, linen, and sequoia wood. ($165 for 1.7 oz.; liisfragrances.com) 4. Eauso Vert Vanilla Embers Eau de Parfum A balance of fresh aquatic florals with lush jasmine, sandalwood, and vanilla bean. ($165 for 1.7 oz.; eauso.com) 5. Lake…

Green Shakshuka with Avocado, Chile, and Feta We make a lot of shakshuka in our house, both red and green, for brunch and for dinner. This green version is milder and lighter than its tomato-based cousin, and is perfect for when you are looking for ways to increase your leafy vegetable consumption, or just want to try something new. The joy of shakshuka of any color is the soft egg yolk running all over the savory, lightly spiced vegetables. Here, crumbled feta adds a salty bite, and avocado slices, a velvety texture. Serve it with some crusty bread to sop up all the saucy goodness. Ingredients • 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced• ¼ tsp. ground coriander• Large pinch of crushed red…

Rupi Kaur’s short poems on Instagram resonated with so many people; then she released three best-selling poetry collections and an Amazon special and, in 2022, launched a world tour. Her fourth book, Healing Through Words, is a departure. Oprah Daily’s VP of Books, Leigh Haber, talked with Kaur about this guided journal designed to help readers explore their heartbreaks, losses, trauma—and discover the power of words to heal. LEIGH HABER: There’s an exercise at the very beginning of the book suggesting readers spend a few moments taking deep breaths, meditating on the word trauma to see what it conjures, and then allotting a few minutes to free writing. What are prompts like this designed to do? RUPI KAUR: I use free writing to tap into my inner thoughts. I might…

One of the first questions we face when we meet new acquaintances is “What do you do?” And according to how we answer, they will either be delighted to see us or look with embarrassment at their watches and shuffle away. The fact is, we live in a world where we are defined almost entirely by our work. This can be hugely liberating for people who are happily employed. But the problem for many of us is that we don’t know what job we’re supposed to do and, as a result, are still waiting to learn who we should be. The idea that we have missed out on our true calling—that somehow we ought to have intuited what we should be doing with our lives long before we finished our…

One thing Oprah knows for sure: Each of us at our core longs to be loved—to have intimate connections that leave us feeling more alive, more human. This new guided journal from the Oprah Daily team was created to help you cultivate those kinds of connections—both with yourself and others—and to manifest the love you want. In the 12 chapters, through guided prompts and thought-provoking questions, you’ll work on learning to set boundaries, communicate better, and more. After all, as Oprah puts it, our purpose is not complete if it does not include a practice of love. (Check out a more in-depth look at the journal on page 64 of this issue.) Pick up your copy at oprahdaily.com/journal. Want to take your journey even further? Become an Oprah Daily Insider…

When Clinique launched the fragrance Happy back in 1997, people in the beauty industry turned up their noses at a perfume designed to lift your spirits. This was the era when fragrance campaigns were all about being edgy and cool or seductively captivating, so the perky premise of spritzing on joy was initially seen as kind of hokey, and insiders doubted that the scent would catch on. Of course, Happy proved all the skeptics wrong, becoming a huge success that remains a cult favorite to this day. Its enduring legacy might have something to do with the fact that it was the first perfume created with “mood mapping,” a technique originally developed by taste and scent manufacturer International Flavors & Fragrances that identifies how different aromas affect our emotions. Clinique’s…

Lip Service Originally founded in 1973, Fashion Fair has relaunched to serve a new generation of women with darker skin tones. The creamy Magenta Mist is stunning on bronze skin; the crimson, called Cat Fight, makes every complexion pop; and Pure Plum complements deep tones beautifully. (Fashion Fair Iconic Lipstick, $26; sephora.com) One-Step Wonder This cleanser’s gel-oil lathers as soon as it touches damp skin. It’s gentle and hydrating—but removes grime and makeup so well that towels stay white. Before you rinse, amino acids and probiotics protect and restore skin’s pH. (The Mantle Skin Conditioning Wash, $78; ubeauty.com) On Trend This season, I’m wearing Essie’s To Me From Me, a muted Prussian blue that looks good with everything from camel to coral. (Nail polish, $10; essie.com) Firm Plans This innovative set includes a…

Let’s begin.… EXERCISE 1 identify THE LOVE YOU HAVE The first step is to put a check mark next to all the instances where you’ve been shown love recently. I encourage you to take your time in capturing the encounters of care shown to you. These could be with friends, family, your partner, a trusted colleague, or a stranger. For instance, when someone… ○ Gave you a sense of safety○ Really listened to you○ Expanded your world with new people, ideas, or activities○ Made you laugh○ Came to your defense○ Showed that they knew you better than anyone○ Was there for you○ Handled things you’re not good at○ Encouraged you to pursue your interest○ Was vulnerable with you○ Did what they said they would do○ Accepted your less-kind moments○ Showed kindness…

We begin to find and become ourselves when we notice how we are already found, already truly, entirely, wildly, messily, marvelously who we were born to be. The only problem is that there is also so much other stuff, typically fixations with how people perceive us, how to get more of the things that we think will make us happy, and with keeping our weight down. So the real issue is, how do we gently stop being who we aren’t? How do we relieve ourselves of the false fronts of people-pleasing and affectation, the obsessive need for power and security, the backpack of old pain, and the psychic Spanx that keeps us smaller and contained? Here’s how I became myself: mess, failure, mistakes, disappointments, and extensive reading; limbo, indecision, setbacks,…

Raising the Bar Talk about beautiful! These hand-cut bars from Flamingo Estate are crafted in Los Angeles with essential oils, minerals, fruits, and herbs sourced from farms that prioritize sustainability. (Garden Essentials Artisanal Bar Soaps, $100 for set of four; flamingoestate.com) Watch Out The new Apple Watch (Oprah loves hers!) is all about health. It monitors sleep and tracks blood oxygen. There’s even crash detection, which calls for help if you’ve been in an accident. (Apple Watch Series 8, from $399; apple.com) Hydration Station Kate McLeod, a former pastry chef, uses cocoa butter (one of her favorite baking ingredients!) and essential oils to create these body stones. Rub them on dry skin post-bath for ultimate moisturizing. (Body Stone, originally $45 each, now 20 percent off with code OPRAH; katemcleod.com) Main…

Let your coat do the talking A trench is that outerwear wonder that can take you from fall to spring. Choose one in buttery leather and you’ll have a piece you will wear for years to come. Leather Trench Coat, $890; cos.com Crewneck Sweater, $50; uniqlo.com Pleated Pants, $50; uniqlo.com Pair sporty with sleek Combine the comfort of a track suit with the polish of a blazer for an elevated-yet-casual ensemble that can work for the office or the weekend. Blazer, $229; talbots.com Track Jacket, Tory Sport, $248; toryburch.com Track Jogger, Tory Sport, $198; toryburch.com Booties, $160; ugg.com When in doubt, hoop it up Here’s why these earrings are a dream. In 14kt gold, they’ll never go out of style, can be worn day or night, and feature an eye-catching chunky design. Ben Bridge Toscano,…

Get Balanced Originally formulated for perimenopausal women, Abel Pause contains essential oils of mimosa to stabilize mood, narcissus to promote good sleep, and violet leaf and hay to help you feel calm. ($120 for 1 oz.; us.abelodor.com) Find Focus For brain fog, The Nue Co.’s stimulating, peppery Mind Energy has clary sage, clove, juniper, spicy pink peppercorn, and geranium to help you concentrate. Apply to pulse points, then inhale deeply. ($95 for 1.7 oz.; thenueco.com) Feel Sexier Veronique Gabai Aroma Body is meant to help rev sensuality; geranium, patchouli, and benzoin are relaxing, while clove leaf is a potential light aphrodisiac. Spray on wrists and behind ears. ($150 for 3.4 oz.; veroniquegabai.com)…

As a child of the early ’80s, I remember doing Jane Fonda’s first-of-its-kind, dance-based workout in our living room. It was a double-sided vinyl record, with a companion book that had photographs for following along. “Whether you’re 15 or 50, with the help of this album and a little hard work, you can achieve a well-proportioned healthy body—not to mention the outward glow that comes from feeling good inside,” she promised. “Learn to understand and respect your body. It’s your temple. And remember, discipline is liberation!” I also remember the late-’80s invention of step aerobics. And I remember my mom making vegetarian dinners from the Moosewood Cookbook because she was worried about our hereditary high cholesterol. I don’t remember ever hearing the word wellness, though. Wellness, in its current form,…

Catie Miller found her calling in life by accident. Though American, Miller lives in London with her British husband. In 2012, she was pregnant with her first child and had just quit her 80-hour-a-week management job when she walked into a barre studio. “The class was filled with different types of people—I was pregnant, there was a woman in her 60s and another woman who was a very well-known yoga instructor,” she recalls. “We all had different body types and abilities, and yet we were all able to do the movements and feel good about ourselves.” Miller says that after class, she told her husband she had found her purpose—she wanted to help other people feel strong and empowered through barre. Inspired by elements of ballet and Pilates, barre combines…

Age of Vice BY DEEPTI KAPOOR Propulsive and heartrending, Kapoor’s newest work explores contemporary India in all its complexity. A young man’s life of service and crime begins with a banal dispute over a wandering goat, which escalates into a father’s brutal beating. His wife borrows money to pay for his medical care, yet he dies, and the debt remains. And 8-year-old son Ajay is thrust into a life of exploitation and dreaming. Big Swiss BY JEN BEAGIN A creepy sex therapist; a beautiful, unfulfilled wife; an unmoored, middle-aged woman hired to transcribe their taped sessions: What could possibly go wrong? Set in bohemian Hudson, New York—“a college town without a college, or summer camp for adults”—Beagin’s black comedy beguiles with its formal frolics and social satire, a laugh-out-loud bad…

Only 20 hours after lockdown was declared in California, in March 2020, my mother was rushed into the hospital in an ambulance. She was losing blood, fast. The phone had rung in our little apartment in Western Japan, and the ambulance driver had asked me if I really wanted to send my 88-year-old loved one to the ICU. A hospital, in those early days of the pandemic, felt more dangerous than anywhere. As my mother’s only close living relative, I had to say yes, and then I secured a seat on the next flight back. Minutes later, a friend sent an email: No visitors were allowed in hospitals. I was as close to my mother in Japan as I would be up the road in Santa Barbara. What could I…

Every moment is a gift. If you can allow yourself to breathe into the depth and wonder and challenges and beauty of each new day, you will be able to take from every experience what it has to offer you—I’ve seen this so many times—and your life will get bigger than you can imagine. I know it’s not easy to keep your heart open to the future. The past few years have taught us that we can’t even imagine what might come next or how it might knock us off course. But that’s exactly the gift of each new moment: It offers another chance to reset and restart. To take a significant, life-transforming step. And then take the next and one more and yet another along our individual paths. So…