Dolly
“Find out who you are, and do it on purpose”.
This week, my mood ring changed colour quicker than ever before. The undisputed Queen of country left us to start a new adventure in heaven. I'm genuinely saddened by Ms. Parton's departure, and I have cried a lot more than I care to admit. Grief is a funny thing. Painfully less funny if you've always been bad at it like I am. I guess all I can do is write to you my friend, I hope these words bring some comfort to a world that is now somehow a little less bright.
Music aside, Dolly was everything I want to be when I grow up. Hilarious, giving, and more importantly: kind. I used to see my own empathy and kindness as a weakness, but Dolly taught me this isn't the case. My friend, we're all each other has, and I insist that we must try and treat each other with grace day by day - and there is nothing more punk and lovely than being a little bit kinder than you planned on being.
Straight musical bangers aside, I will forever be in awe of what I would consider Dolly's most important gift: The Imagination Library. Inspired by her own father's illiteracy, Dolly took it upon herself to gift over 300 million books to children worldwide. Read that again. That's mental. I was lucky enough to work on the UK programme a few years back and I think that this work solidified my already established status as a Dolly fan. If you have a child between the ages of 0-5, I urge you to sign up to your local programme here. They will receive a book every month, all free of charge of course.
I've always been a big reader, and more often than not you can find me tucked away in a South Liverpool pub devouring a pint and book with glee. This, my friend, is why I write to you, too. If words can make us smile, then the inevitable try at podcast stardom can wait. Reading is fundamental, and there's something so nice to me about giving yourself permission to delve into a different world. Whether its these words, or a book as big as Dolly's personality, I think we should always make the time for it. Reading made me curious, funny, smart - and apparently, not very humble at all - but just like Dolly, I think i'd like to say i'm sure of myself as a person.
What else is there to say? I think Dolly taught us that you've always got to try. Truly believe in yourself and take a leap of faith with creating the life you truly want to leave. I say this full of anxiety as I type these words to you, my friend - starting this blog began with trying to conquer fear, which I will admit is still sitting with me as I write to you tonight. But Dolly comes back into my thoughts: Do you not think she was scared shitless when she first move to Nashville back in ‘64?? And when she wanted to rag Jolene everywhere do you not think she had to deal with that horrid stomach churning anxiety that you yourself have felt time and time again?
Support your fellow humans, and support your local library. Get some rhinestones on and make it your goal to make both yourself and a friend smile today. Don't give up. She waltzed up to heaven believing in you. In all of us.
Thank you for everything Dolly.
x