This week we experienced the sad death of Dolly Parton. Millions of people around the world have been remembering her incredible career and talent, her values and approach to life, and her immense sense of philanthropy, as well as her sense of fun and occasion. She was truly a remarkable individual.
Such role models and inspirational mentors don’t come along often, especially in public life. What was exceptional about Dolly is that she brought people together across many apparent divides through her songs and the way she lived her life; and it seems she has done the same in death. Music has a special way of doing that, and musical artists even more so, if they recognise that opportunity.
We will all have suffered loss in our lives; someone who inspired us, who gave us the strength to carry on in times of trouble, who enabled us to express how we feel, who made us smile when we were sad, and who we learned from. When anyone in the public eye dies, we naturally tend to reflect on those nearer to home whom we have lost, and on the life lessons they have gifted us.
Shorts
You will all have your own memories of Dolly Parton, but here are some wellbeing lessons that I have taken from her songs, her words and from the way she lived her life.
