Oprah has done it again with her recent acceptance speech for the Cecil B. Mille award at the Golden Globes. The speech embodied everything we need to hear right now, both in the United States and globally.

But here’s the thing: as much as I love Oprah, I do not want her as the next president. In fact, I don’t even want her to run. And it has nothing to do with credentials or the fact that she’s a “celebrity” and we’ve “been there done that.” 

I don’t want her to run for president because moms need Oprah. As she is, not as president of the United States.

You see, she is already making a profound difference in her everyday work that a massive void would fall upon us should she pour her energy into a presidential campaign.

Doesn’t she already lead our country and captivate audiences far and wide in a way no man or woman has ever been able to before?

If Oprah set her sights on 2020, we would lose her innate ability to help people share their most personal stories. We would lose those influential moments she passes on to her audience when she teases out the wisdom of great thought leaders of our time. 

Oprah has reminded us it’s OK to ask for help, to make mistakes and bounce back, to let vulnerability guide us.

There are plenty of decision makers in the world but not enough soul shakers. 

Sure, Oprah could probably succeed in doing what needs to be done to run our country. Just as many people could succeed in various professions other than the one that bides their time. But would their heart be in it? Wouldn’t they be denying their true calling? Aren’t these the very things that Oprah stands for?

Our nation is certainly facing some trying times, but on a personal level, women are beginning to thrive. We are speaking up, we are becoming more aware and we are facing our truths. I don’t think I’m wrong in saying Oprah has played a role in some of society’s shift in mindfulness.

She’s a therapist for those who can’t afford one. She’s hope for the struggling. She helps moms feel like they can take on the world. She’s an inspiration to our everything. But, if she campaigned for the presidency, she’d be following protocol. Checking off boxes. Dotting Is and crossing Ts. 

In the back of your head, you may be thinking, “Yes, but . . . she can influence laws and policies and use her power to inspire even more change on a global scale.” 

And there’s a lot of truth to that. But here’s the thing: if we lose Oprah to presidency, who would take her place? 

Not only do moms count on Oprah, but she is also a voice for artists everywhere, reminding us that art (anyone who creates) is the basis of connection, the foundation of human interaction. 

If Oprah ran in 2020, would I vote for her? Yeah, I would. But I hope somewhere there is a woman, strong and transparent, who has the ability to transform and inspire as Ms. Winfrey has done for so many years. 

Because Oprah’s role now is just as important as the work of a president.