5 Things We Can Learn from Dolly Parton
We lost a hero, the day I'm writing this. Dolly Parton passed away at 80 years old, and as I think about her, I keep thinking "she taught me so much". Really, she taught all of us so much. What a profound loss, for the music community, for her loved ones, for the world. She was one of the best teachers of our time because she didn't just educate (her book foundation brought so many books to so many children) but she led by example. I wanted to compile this list of the things she taught me, the ones I'm still learning, and the ones she imparted on the world as a whole.
"I was born a dreamer, and I'll die a dreamer."
Dolly taught me that dreaming isn't just something you do when you're young, it's a fundamental way to be, think, and live. She taught me to dream of a better future, to think bigger, to always think how to make things better for others. She was an incredible leader. Andy Warhol once told Dolly "you'd make a great preacher". She responded, "I am a great preacher." She knew that her words had profound impact on those that heard them.
“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.”
Dolly wasn't afraid of her own power. She embodied it fully, even when that meant taking risks, being outspoken, or trusting her gut when no one else did. Dolly put her own mark on the world, and she didn't wait for permission from the powerful forces around her. She did all this with grace, even writing one of the world's great love songs about how she was (gracefully, but firmly) moving on from a work situation that was limiting her. She didn't say 'screw you I'm out' but "I Will Always Love You". Dolly taught the world that you can move with grace and still have a backbone.
“Storms make trees take deeper roots.”
Dolly was no stranger to hard times. But she wrote through all of them, over 40 albums worth. She never forgot where she came from, always proud of her East Tennessee roots. She was no stranger to loss, either. But she let the storms of life inspire her, and in turn, inspire so many others, to get through the storms in their own lives.
“My songs are like my children—I expect them to support me when I’m old.”
Dolly believed in the staying power of her music. She wasn't afraid to be confident, rather she believed that her songs were things of real value. She didn't sell herself short. Dolly was smart, resilient, and spoke to the world so confidently. She had a fearlessness that matched her grand vision - so when her plans came to life, from Dollywood, to the Imagination Library, to the songs that she shared, she was able to execute and turn her dreams into plans -then into reality.
"You can’t just sit around and think of all the things you want to do. You’ve got to think of what you want to do, and then you’ve got to get out and make that happen.”
The vision of Dolly Parton was world-encompassing. But it wasn't just a dream. It came to fruition, because she knew the power of doing instead of wishing. "You've got to get out and make that happen." That line in particular is sticking with me. I'm so inspired to write a country song, I'm going to write a country song now. This was going to be a list of 10 things, but I think Dolly would have wanted whatever song this is going to be, more than the rest of this blog.
Rest in peace, Dolly. I Will Always Love You.
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