Dolly Parton knew how to live well: 10 lessons we can all take from her remarkable life

As the world mourns the loss of Hollywood star and country legend Dolly Parton, there are some important life lessons we can learn following her death. From never giving up on your dreams to making other people’s lives better, these are some important lessons we can all take from the way she chose to live her life.

1: Help when you are in a position to do so

On her official website, Dolly Parton wrote: “When you are in a position to help, you should help.”

As well as donating money, Dolly Parton’s mission was vast in giving back and helping. From reaching out and offering support to families after devastating fires and hurricanes to donating millions of books to children, her generosity had no bounds.

2: Never forget your roots

I’m not talking about her hair colour here but where she came from! Having grown up in poverty on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center, Tennessee, Dolly never forgot her roots. She remained deeply connected to where she came from, even after she became wealthy. Connecting with our toots can keep us humble and grounded. In Dolly’s case, she made it part of her identity.

3: Don’t let others darken your light

“I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb. And I also know I’m not blonde,” Dolly Parton said.

Perhaps the life lesson here is even when people judge you, don’t let their opinion define who you actually are! Although Dolly was adored by millions, there were those who criticized her for what she wore, her hair, and even her voice. Yet she was able to rise above all the negativity and never dimmed her own light.

4: Be Kind

According to clinical psychologist Dr. Matthew Leahy we can try to emulate Dolly’s kindness.

“Whether we’re talking about her philanthropy, or simply the way she interacted with people across very different backgrounds, she has cultivated a reputation for generosity and kindness that feels unusually consistent. Helping other people tends to pull us outside of ourselves. We get so caught up in our own worries, status, frustrations and problems that doing something meaningful for somebody else can reset our perspective and strengthen our own sense of purpose and connection.”

5: Be authentic

One of Dolly’s famous quotes was: “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”

Dolly never shied away from setbacks or hard times, which probably helped with making her so resilient.

“Dolly Parton understood that authenticity does not mean being understated and that’s something many people never learn, but it was part of her DNA,” explained PR consultant Natalie Trice. “Her hair, the clothes, the rhinestones were part of the show, but there was never any smoke and mirrors about the woman underneath. She openly joked about her appearance, talked about where she came from, knew exactly what she was worth and never pretended success had happened by accident.”

6: Never give up on your dreams

“Never give up on a dream because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway,” is one of Dolly’s famous quotes.

An excellent life lesson to keep pursuing your dreams and not spend the time thinking of them as that can pass by quickly.

7: Keep reinventing yourself

If Dolly’s career is anything to go by, she proved you don’t have to put yourself in one box. Singer, philanthropist, author and actress, she set an example that you can evolve and embrace more job than one.

8: Try to keep laughing and being funny

Having a sense of humour was one of Dolly’s greatest assets. From laughing at herself to making others laugh, humour helped her navigate all parts of her life – from her big hair to fame and celebrity life. Her wit was part of her charm and in a world that can often feel heavy, making someone laugh can bring light into someone’s day.

9: Be brave enough to get out your comfort zone

“You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.”

An important life lesson for us all about not sticking with what feels comfortable and to grab life by the horns. Dolly’s life saw her step out of a comfortable path and be willing to embrace things that scared her. From being scared to perform as a child to being apprehensive about her music, Dolly’s fear showed being scared shouldn’t hold you back.

10: Be comfortable in yourself

According to clinical psychologist Dr. Matthew Leahy, this is a big thing.

“Dolly was distinctive, funny, glamorous, sometimes provocative, and she didn’t seem to spend much energy apologizing for any of it. And that’s something that people truly admire. I think people are drawn to that because so many of us spend an enormous amount of energy monitoring ourselves: Am I saying the right thing? Do people approve of me? Am I too much? Not enough? Dolly seemed to model another way of living. But in a kind and freeing way.”