Inspirational Ladies

You know when people always ask "Which celebrity, living or dead, would you most like to have lunch with?"  I've always wondered, "Why do we have to have lunch? Couldn't we have a glass of tea or some pie or something?"  Everyone knows sitting around chatting over dessert always seems to last for hours!  


In typical Bethany fashion, I can't choose just one person so we are changing this question to "Which celebrities, living or dead, would you most like to invite to your home to have a glass of tea or enjoy a slice of pie?"

1.  Dolly Parton
I swear, I really think Dolly and I could be the best of friends.  I think she is truly one of the most gracious and candid people in the spotlight.  In an age where people are famous for just being born, this lady is a rare gem of talent.  Not only is she an amazing singer/songwriter, but an actress and a business woman.  She also plays the fiddle, drums, harmonica, piano and even the flute!  With all of her great success, you'd think she'd definitely be on a high horse...but no!  Dolly frequently laughs and jokes about herself, never taking herself too seriously.  I once saw an interview where she was asked if she would ever pose nude for Playboy.  She answered "No, not until I'm 100.  And then won't you be sorry!" She's very proud of her roots as a Tennessean and as a Christian.  I have attended church in the chapel at Dollywood and let me tell you, if you find yourself in the theme park on a Sunday morning you'll be sure to be blessed.

Fun Dolly Facts:
-She met her husband of 45 years at a Nashville laundromat.-She wrote the bare bones of the song "9-5" by "playing" her acrylic fingernails.

2. Reese Witherspoon
Is or isn't Reese Witherspoon the cutest person there ever was?  That's right!  She is.  She is just so spunky and adorable, it would be easy to view her on her pretty face and sweet demeanor but Reese Witherspoon made her way from Harpeth Hall to Hollywood using the good sense God gave her.  With doctors for parents it's probably hard not to be a smarty.  In her acceptance speech for the MTV Generation Award a few years back I remember she said how disappointing she thought it was that women were becoming famous from scandalous videos and pictures on the internet.  She is a dedicated mother and just seems like such a down-to-Earth girl.  Therefore, she's invited to our Pie Eating Date.

Fun Reese Facts:

-She is said to be a relative of John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Independence.

-She graduated from Harpeth Hall. The all-girl school in Nashville.

3. Dale Smith Thomas

I became familiar with Dale Smith Thomas while at a work conference this past fall.  They loaded us all on buses (I was one of the lucky riders of the County Workhouse bus) and took us to an auditorium for a "motivational speaker" session.  Now I will be the first to admit that I have heard some less-than-motivating motivational speakers in my day so I wasn't so sure how this adventure was going to go.  I could not have been more pleasantly surprised!  I boarded that Workhouse bus back to my room feeling so uplifted and really eager to attend her session the next morning.

Not only is Dale gorgeous, she's also got the right mindset to tackle whatever life may throw...bonus points, she is hilarious!  One of the points Dale made was that if you wake up each morning with a defeated attitude, you're already down for the day.  She challenged us to wake up, look ourselves in the mirror and say "Good morning Gorgeous!"  Then we had to say it to people as we passed them in the halls, at breakfast, etc.  You might have felt a little silly at first, but seeing other people's reactions was great.    Dale also spoke on the power of positive thinking.  How we can be winners by choice.  She spoke about the time she had competed in the Mrs. America pageant and was ready to win and catapult herself into a speaking sensation.  The only problem with that is that she didn't win....but did that stop her?  Not a chance!  She has definitely made an impression on me as well as many others nationwide...including Dr. Phil!  

Check out her website for more awesome tools on how to have a great, positive mindset here

Fun Dale Facts:

-Dale Smith Thomas was born and raised in Mississippi but lives in Nashville.

-She won the title of Mrs. Tennessee.

-Her program "Boot Camp for Beauty Queens" was featured on an episode of The Simple Life with Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie

So these are my Tea and Pie dates.  Who would you eat lunch/pie/tea with?