Starring: Danica McKellar, Niall Matter, and Dolly Parton
Released: 2019
Summary: A New York event planner heads to Tennessee after hearing about an opportunity to produce a Christmas celebration taking place in Dollywood.
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| Image: Crown Media, United States LLC |
Contents
“One Person’s ‘Bossy’ Is Another Person’s ‘Detail-Oriented'”
Rachel Davis and Luke Hackman both vie for the opportunity to create the best Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood.
Rachel’s goal is to show her boss she is capable of taking over the event planning business one day, while Luke wants to prove his competence as he seeks a promotion from Director of Operations to Dollywood’s General Manager.
Accustomed to flying solo, neither Rachel nor Luke are thrilled with the board’s decision to appoint both of them to co-plan the park’s Christmas celebration.
Luke has worked at Dollywood since age 15, so he’s comfortable keeping the event the usual status-quo. Rachel is an over-the-top planner who isn’t satisfied with anything less than epic.
Luke grows weary of hearing Rachel exclaim, “I’ve got an idea!” and it’s this dialogue that introduces the great movie line, One person’s ‘bossy’ is another person’s ‘detail-oriented.’
Have you ever been accused of being bossy? If you have, is it true, or are you just detail-oriented?
I can relate to this line because I am an ultra-organized person, and if you’re like me, you know that it’s the attention to detail and staying on target that helps you achieve your goals.
When you are detail-oriented but the people you’re working with aren’t, you might appear bossy. Someone has to take the reins and make decisions! Most projects have time constraints, so you keep the ball rolling and plan for every possible contingency.
Laid-back, go-with-the-flow personalities are maddening to the detail-oriented person because the inattention to particulars can lead to excess damage control that could be avoided with better planning.
“Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity”
This is an actual quote, attributed to Roman philosopher, Seneca.
Rachel’s dream is to be a children’s author, and she pens stories for her daughter she calls, The Adventures of Ava. It’s Rachel’s good fortune, or “luck,” that puts her in touch with Dolly Parton, who runs the charitable Imagination Library that ultimately markets Rachel’s book.
Do you believe in “luck?” As a Christian, I do not. Instead, I consider “luck” to be God’s blessing.
Here are a few ways luck and faith are different:
- Luck is based on random chance. Faith is built on God’s promises–a sure thing!
- Luck says you happen to be at the right place at the right time. Christians attribute unexpected opportunities to Divine Intervention. Psalm 37:23: The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.
- Luck is a gamble. Faith is trusting God’s good plan. Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
- Luck can be good or bad. With faith, you know God can bring something good out of all situations–even bad ones. Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God….
- You have no control over luck. Faith always offers hope.
- Lucky guesses, or intuition, depend on a person’s gut. For people of faith, wise decisions come from the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Regardless of your position on faith versus luck, it’s good to work hard and be prepared so when opportunity knocks, you are ready.
“Don’t Get So Busy Making A Living You Forget To Make a Life”
This is one of Dolly Parton’s famous quotes.
How many times do we put off going on vacation, enjoying family time with our kids, pursuing a hobby, or making memories because work is so all-consuming?
Harold Kushner, the man known for the book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, is the one who wisely stated,
No one ever said on their deathbed ‘I wish I’d spent more time at the office.’
What are you postponing until you reach some arbitrary future goal? It’s commendable to be responsible and industrious, but don’t keep putting life on hold–it passes by too quickly.
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| Image: Crown Media, United States LLC |
“For Those Who Say It Can’t Be Done, Would You Just Please Stop Interrupting Those Of Us That Are Doing It?”
Negative people are discouraging.
Innovators and entrepreneurs think outside the box and accomplish feats that have never been done. They are the ground-breakers and trail-blazers. Imagine what Noah’s contemporaries must have thought when he was building the ark!
When you are feeling inspired, do you dig in your heels and proceed full throttle, or do you let people easily shoot down your ideas?
Surround yourself with the right people who will encourage you to chase your dreams.
Growing up, Dolly Parton wasn’t just poor–she was dirt poor. She lived with her parents in a one-room cabin with 11 other siblings. Instead of resigning herself to a life of poverty, she broke the cycle. Today, Parton’s net worth is $500 million!
In the movie, Luke Hackman shares a similar background with Dolly. He also grew up in a poor family, and that’s why he’s determined to rise to the top in his profession and be the first in his family to be successful and prosper.
Rachel’s Plan A was to be a children’s book author, but when her husband died, becoming an event planner became her Plan B–a practical way to make a living to provide for her daughter.
Are you living out your Plan A or Plan B?
One Of Hallmark’s Most Over-Used Lines
So, those are my favorite lines from the movie, but I have a least favorite, too.
In so many Hallmark movies, the leading lady is given a much-deserved two weeks-ish off around Christmas, but always gets this reminder from her boss:
But be ready because come the first of the year, we’re going to hit the ground running.
This movie is no different. Get a new line! If you haven’t noticed it and been annoyed by it, I bet you will now. You’re welcome.
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