Legacy

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived---this is to have succeeded. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Though you will read this blog days later, the first draft was written just after I read of Dolly Parton’s death.  I know that there has been a lot in the news and on social media since her passing, but this is one of the few celebrity deaths that actually made me pause and think about life and legacies, so I’m sharing anyway.

Dolly lived well and even though her faith was unconventional, I firmly believe that she is with her Lord, but it still makes me sad to think of a world without her in it. I’m not a huge fan of country music, but Dolly was incredibly talented and crossed all musical boundaries with her songs and powerful voice. Yet it was her persona that made her beloved by all. It was NOT her crazy extravagant clothes on her buxom frame. NOR was it her incredibly large hairdo!  It was NOT even her beautiful strong voice. No, it was more than those temporal things.

What made Dolly different, particularly in the entertainment industry, was her unwavering kindness towards everyone combined with a staunch determination to avoid politics and use her music to unite people in joy. Her willingness to openly acknowledge her humble roots and ability to make fun of herself. Her extensive philanthropy based on wanting to make a difference, not just a name. In the many interviews that I’ve seen online since I wrote the first draft of this blog, over and over, I’ve seen a person who truly was kind, caring, funny, hardworking, and joyful!

It makes me think about life and legacy. A legacy is determined by how we live, our words and actions in all we do. While money and power may provide the opportunity to give, only the truly generous and joyous heart leave behind a legacy that is remembered best…and that isn’t tied to finances.