Dream More by Dolly Parton
summarized by BECKIE MOORE
After reconnecting with a high school friend after many years apart, we decided it would be fun to share with each other one of our favorite books. I gifted him The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho and he gifted me Dream More, by Dolly Parton. I can understand why he loves Dolly and her book so much. She is so genuine.
Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You expands upon the commencement speech Dolly gave at the University of Tennessee graduation ceremony in 2009. Her speech and this book are based on the four principles that guide the mission at the Dollywood Foundation for the Imagination Library: Dream More, Learn More, Care More, and Be More.
Dream More. Dreams provide the direction your actions need to take you. Dolly warns, “Do not confuse dreams with wishes.” Dreams are the visions you create to establish the actions you need to take to achieve those dreams. Wishes are just hoping good things will happen to you.
Learn More. The more you learn the easier it is to learn. Being able to read increases your ability to learn. Dolly established the Imagination Library in 1996 to provide one book a month to every child from birth until kindergarten, providing the opportunity for a strong foundation of learning at a young age.
Care More. “The Coat of Many Colors” is the song Dolly frequently thinks about when she thinks about kids who were not taught to care enough not to hurt other kids’ feelings. Dolly asks we all care more and leave the judging to God.
Be More. To be more means to be less - less apt to judge, less apt to make excuses, and less apt to be self-serving and self-righteous. Be the best you you can be. Be a real somebody.
Favorite Quotes
I refuse to settle for something less than great. And if it takes a lifetime, then that’s how long I’ll wait. ‘Cause all I want is everything… is that too much to ask?
The magic is inside you… there ain’t no crystal ball.
… let me be there when I’m needed, if I’m needed and as I’m needed.
Do not confuse dreams with wishes. There is a difference.
You’re not going to see your dreams come true if you don’t put wings, legs, arms, hands and feet on ‘em.
It took me a while to realize that the more you learn, the easier it is to learn.
I read on two levels—one to absorb the content of the book (what the author is trying to say) and the other to absorb the author’s creativity, which helps me to feel my own creativity.
‘Professionalist’ means that I always strive simply to be my very best.
… happiness is your commitment to appreciating all that is good in life, big and small.
You have to work hard at being happy, just like you have to work hard at being miserable.
Over and over again, keeping these small commitments adds up to trust. If people cannot consistently fulfill their small commitments, then they sure cannot consistently keep the big ones.
Plan your life and do what you do best. You may not want to be a star, but you do want to be a star in your own dreams.
I know that I’m known for my physical attributes, but I know the real me is in my heart and in my actions. And the real you resides in your heart and your actions.
I just want to be the best Dolly Parton I can be.
I’m not going to limit myself just because people won’t accept the fact that I can do something else.