“If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.”
– Dolly Parton
Why I chose this quote
If you’re wondering how Dolly Parton made it onto my reading blog, she is actually an author. As well as a singer, songwriter, actress, producer, businesswoman, and philanthropist. Don’t worry, I’m not here to make anyone feel like an underachiever. The purpose of my quote blog posts is to inspire. And that’s why I chose this quote in particular.
Dolly has written several autobiographical books. But recently she collaborated with James Patterson to write a fiction book set in the music world. It’s called Run, Rose, Run.
Generally, I don’t love the trend of celebrity books. They get instant, sometimes undeserved, success. Most authors spend years honing their craft, and work hard for many more years before they earn any real money. No matter how good they are.
But it’s hard not to cheer for Dolly Parton. Firstly, she has partnered with a great author. Rather than just assuming she can write anything brilliantly, she is learning the craft from an expert. If not in quite the same way as the rest of us.
And she doesn’t write books just to make more money. One of her charitable initiatives, Imagination Library, was founded to give books to children. So reading is clearly something that’s close to her heart.
She also puts her enormous wealth to good use in other ways. Such as supporting young people – and her own employees – to continue their education, so they too can fulfil their potential.
What this quote means to me
In a world drowning in consumerism and greed, kindness is more precious than gold. And that’s what this quote is about.
We can’t all donate huge sums to charitable causes. But we can spare a smile. We can do one small thing to show another person that we care. We can all make a difference to somebody.
That’s what this quote means to me. What does it mean to you?
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Deborah Grant-Dudley 