Pursuit of Greatness

Dear Dolly Parton,

I have recently watched the Netflix original To The Bone. This movie follows the life of a girl named Ellen, who battles anorexia and her journey to health. This movie reminded me of you, Dolly, as I noticed similarities between you and a character named Dr. William Beckham. He runs an unconventional house for people suffering from eating disorders. Dr. Beckham turns his back on a normal life in the pursuit to achieve one for the patients.

When looking at all the inspirational work you do with your life, I couldn’t help but think about the influencing comparisons between this character and you. I’ve always been awestruck at your outstanding accomplishments, especially our fight to promote and improve literacy with your “Imagination Library”. The act of sending books to children has spread from Tennessee, Canada, the UK, and Australia. This compares to Dr. Beckham because through his selflessness of his work, he is able to impact so much more. One of the main points the movie acknowledges is how the disease of anorexia affects family, friends, and loved ones. It stresses the point that an illness is not a battle for just one person, but rather a unit. By changing one person's life, and leading them to a place of health and mental stability, Dr. Beckham affects much more than just one person and manages to change the lives of many. It is his sacrifice that allows his influence to make a difference, similar to yours. Through your work with the library, your pledge of 3 million to victims of wildfires, all of which includes, one thousand a month to each victim, and the $500,000 to the Fort Sanders Medical Center. While Dr. Beckham might not have affected as many lives, he understands as well as you that in order in order to make an impact and a difference, you need to sacrifice what you can to who you can.

Another similarity between you and Dr. Beckham is the integrity and originality in how you help and give back to others. Dr. Beckham is known for treating the patients in a home in an unorthodox yet effective matter. He achieves this by not stressing food, limiting family exposure, and a point system in which you can earn your freedom. His new method and perspective of the serious disorder is what leads the patient to a better self-sustaining life, and a 6-month long waiting list to get in on the program. You embody this mindset, as well by the way you execute your programs.

The movie has an ominous ending that can be left for interpretation. It ends with Ellen finally taking her health seriously and going back to work with Dr. Beckham. This ending doesn’t reveal if Ellen finally achieves health, or where any of the characters end up. I felt this was a lovely representation of life as the characters are going to keep working towards health. Dr. Beckham keeps working to help others and you keep working to inspire, without an ending in sight.