Happiness

Dolly Parton was raised in a one room cabin with 11 siblings. They were "dirt poor", yet she continues to says: "I still close my eyes and go home--I can always draw from that".

When Dolly was little her parents made all of the gifts that the kids received. Things like corn cob dolls were a wonderful treasure. Dolly's mom would take the kids into the woods with their corn dolls for tea parties and they would peel back moss and drape it over a rock to use this as their table and table cloth. In a recent interview Ms. Parton said that she has yet to see a carpet as beautiful as those tablecloths.

Its no wonder that The Parton kids had great imaginations it is really all they could afford. All of the 12 kids were given strong roots and the ability to become their own person. They were taught from the basics and given values from their pentecostal parents. Dolly is one of the most honored people in country music and not just for her acting and singing but for her role as a cultural ambassador, philanthropist and lifelong advocate of education.

Dolly also has only been married once, she has had the same husband since 1966.

Why do I bring this all up? Because it seems that a lot of people measure their happiness by how many toys they have, how much money they make, or whether or not they are able to keep up with the Jones's.

I think it is important for people to realize that happiness is handmade right along with the gifts and memories that you can make with your family.

If you stop looking for that better toy, that job that makes more money, or the house that is bigger than someone else's and instead look at what you really have. You might find that your true happiness has been with you all a long and that you too can close your eyes and draw from that.