Oprah’s Next Chapter with Rihanna aired last night and let me say that I was pleasantly surprised. Rihanna conveyed an obvious honesty that cannot be denied no matter how you perceive the interview or her as an artist. Let’s just say that the millions who watched were captivated by that. That said, here are a few things that stayed on my mind (other than that fly house she bought for her mama):

1. Forgiveness is more for you as it is for your transgressor. Rihanna’s candid response to her relationship with Chris Brown (including the infamous night when she was attacked) was what a lot of people needed to hear. The reason? There are many people who watched that interview and have relatives, friends, or acquaintances that are or have experienced the same thing and they don’t get the same amount of play, concern, nor attention. Obviously, Rihanna has shown that although it is not easy (especially under the microscope of the spotlight), you can survive and thrive despite an abusive event.

2. Daddy issues are something else. Many have made this sentiment and Rock comically nailed it in his Never Scared special  concerning how a woman’s relationship with her father shapes all subsequent relationships with men in the future. Rihanna’s admission that her reconciliation with her father was key in her forgiveness of Brown was nothing short of poetic. As she said, “Go to the source…”

3. There will always be a wounded dissenter lurking. While I was tweeting about the “daddy issues” on Twitter, someone decided to get all caught up in their feelings and try to come at me like I was attacking my fellow sistren. Their tweets were along the lines of “don’t judge” and “you haven’t walked in shoes, blah, blah, blah.” But they were steadfast in judging me, thus revealing their own insecurities under a thinly veiled defense while trying to tell me that what I thought was not an opinion at all. Funny how people to drop the infamous “Thou shall not judge” quip then proceed to judge you. Can you say “Check yourself”? Like my daddy says, “There is always one.“

4. Face the ugly things head on, then heal yourself. Just think what Rihanna’s life and career would be like had she wallowed in that situation. Many of us spend too much time harping on traumatic experiences, thus never truly getting past them. It is never easy to confront those who have hurt us and revisit the hurtful experiences that often shape our outlook on people and life. But the sooner you address it (and them), you are able to move on to things and people who are more important.

Great interview overall. Enough said. Rise above.