Oprah announced yesterday that she is offering a free 10-week online class starting in March, based on her new book club selection, “A New Earth.” When I went to the site last night, I got this message:

Due to high traffic demands, this Oprah.com feature is temporarily unavailable.”

Yep, offer something for free and everyone comes in droves. Oprah offers something for free and everyone and her mother comes in droves.

It’s exciting that so many people are interested in discussing a book and learning more, so much so that it crashed the server.

I love learning and jump at the chance for any type of training so I am sure I will join in on this weekly class. She’s said to be teaching it along with the author, Eckhart Tolle. Each week will be based on a chapter in the book. And, there are discussion boars and interactive features for users to upload his/her thoughts — I’m assuming good or bad.

Online education is a new realm for some and I’m glad that Oprah is embracing a new technology in a way that will surely include more people than she ever imagined. I have reservations about if I will like the book, but I’m good about taking new age topics and altering them to my own belief system so I’ll give it a shot. It’s the book’s subtitle that has my interest: “Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose.”

And, since it’s Oprah, the time is right: 9:00 p.m. once a week. Many women are home at that hour and most of the kids are tucked in bed by 9:00 (let’s hope so anyway) so there’s no excuse to join in if you are interested.

Related:

• Buy “A New Earth”
• Sign up to take Oprah’s free class
• Another book by Tolle, “The Power of Now”
• Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life”

Several years ago my friend Lori gave me a small box of “Power Thought Cards.” I’ve used them on and off again through the years and recently found them again. They are a great inspiration, either at the beginning or end to your day. They really should be called Positive Thought Cards.

If you are one to meditate, I suppose it would be an excellent way to get a thought going — something positive in which to concentrate. Even if you don’t practice meditation, it’s just a great way to take a moment and reflect on a positive thought and try to stay upbeat for the day.

Each card has a short message on one side and a longer message on the reverse. Here are three random samples:

I prosper wherever I turn: I now see opportunities for abundance everywhere. I am blessed and prospered.”

My income is constantly increasing: I begin now, today, to open myself to ever-increasing prosperity.”

I see clearly: I willingly forgive. I breather love into my vision, and I see with compassion and understanding. My clear insight is reflected in my outer sight.”

They are colorful and whimsical, which makes it more fun. It’s a great gift for yourself or for a friend.

Related:

Product information from Amazon.

Oprah has the secret alright, “The Secret” that is. It was recently announced that she is going to have her own TV network. She’s working with Discovery Communications to launch her own TV network: OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. From Oprah.com:

Fifteen years ago, I wrote in my journal that one day I would create a television network, as I always felt my show was just the beginning of what the future could hold,” said Oprah Winfrey, who will serve as chairman of OWN. “For me, the launch of The Oprah Winfrey Network is the evolution of the work I’ve been doing on television all these years and a natural extension of my show.”

She wrote it down. I hear this so often. “The Secret” boasts about believing in yourself, telling yourself that you can do something, making a board with photos on it to help visualize your dreams. That’s what Oprah did. Fifteen years later it’s coming true.

Women across the world can learn from this specific example. Today, write down what it is you want to do. Something big. What is your dream? Write it down so it will come true.

Over the years I’ve read many books that have helped me gain a certain composure to my life. This year, I’m rereading one of those books: “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy,” I call it the pink book.

My mother first introduced me to this book, several years ago. Since that time I’ve read it a few times and have highlighted my favorite passages, but it’s time for a renewed look. There is so much good content in this book that I’ve put it by my bedside table to pick up and read throughout the year.

It’s a great read, a must read if you are overwhelmed in your life. The author, Sarah Ban Breathnach, takes you through short passages each day, quoting famous people, then relating it to daily living. She stresses how to step back and enjoy the simplicities of life.

Today carve out a quiet interlude in which to dream, pen in hand. Only dreams give birth to change. What are your hopes for the future as you reflect on the years that have passed?

Take a leap of faith and begin this wondrous new year by believing. Believe in yourself.”

Related:

• Visit Sarah’s Web site dedicated to “Life as it can be.”
• Get more detail or order the book online.

In Wordpress (the software I use to write this blog) there is a great feature that tells you all the search keywords people use to find your blog. Most of mine are pretty normal: they are about kids and being a mom, but some of the keywords are strange. Here’s a sampling:

• “magnets to go to sleep”
  I did write about how my son wanted to go to bed with magnets, but I find it odd that someone would search for magnets to go to sleep.
• “moms need money”
  Amen, Hallelujah sista’-friend. Yes we do need money! We can have more money if we manage our finances properly. Read my financial posts here.
• “sad about motherhood”
  This one really struck me. I just hope that what I write here helped this person. It’s a tough job and can be sad at times, but overall it’s the greatest job on earth.
• “what women carry in their purses”
  Yes, this one is very popular. I’m not sure if it’s women trying to find one of the articles that was written in “O Magazine” or in “Real Simple” magazine, but I get this one a lot. Read my post about what’s in women’s purses and get a link to view photos of strangers’ purses.
• “goodie reverse trick or treating”
  OK, I thought I coined the phrase “reverse trick-o-treating” in my Halloween post, but I guess some other brilliant person thought of it too.