Dolly Parton

 

As I continue reflecting on the life of Dolly Parton, there is something else about her that I have always admired: Dolly lived life on her own terms.

She figured out who she was, developed her own style, and then had the courage to be that woman—fully, boldly and unapologetically.

The hair.

The heels.

The rhinestones.

The glamour.

The sparkle.

She loved it, and she owned it.

And what I love most is that underneath all that sparkle was a woman who was incredibly gifted, intelligent, creative, strategic and business savvy. She built a career that lasted for decades, wrote songs that became part of the fabric of our lives, built businesses, gave generously and remained unmistakably Dolly.

There is something in that for every woman.

You do not have to dim yourself to make other people comfortable.

You do not have to dress like everyone else, sound like everyone else, build like everyone else, dream like everyone else—or become somebody else's definition of the woman you should be.

There comes a point in a woman's life when she must become comfortable enough in her own skin to say:

This is me.

Dolly understood something I wish more women understood: you can be feminine and formidable. You can love beauty and still be brilliant. You can sparkle and still have substance.

One does not cancel out the other.

And perhaps that is one of the reasons she connected with so many people. Beneath all the glamour, she never seemed ashamed of where she came from, and she never needed to become somebody else in order to succeed.

She made being Dolly enough.

As someone whose life and work are devoted to helping women discover who they are, find their voice, embrace their purpose and live fully, I find that part of her legacy especially beautiful.

So, ladies, perhaps there is one more lesson we can take from Dolly:

- Find your sparkle.

- Own your style.

- Use your gifts.

- Build what is in your heart.

- Give generously.

- And never spend your life apologizing for being the woman God created you to be.

There will never be another Dolly Parton.

And maybe that is the point.

There should never be another you either. ✨❤️