HN: Why is it important to consider others?
T.D.
“To me, it seems obvious why it’s important to consider others, so this one is a hard one for me to put an answer to. How can we not consider others? We’re all connected. That person that you help up off the ground today, may be the one who helps you tomorrow. It’s easy to get caught up in our own little world and not venture outside our own bubbles but what kind of world does that make? It’s amazing how even just a kind word can change someone’s entire day. Maybe that person was contemplating suicide before you stepped in and offered them a kind word and a glimmer of hope. Maybe the next person was considering committing a crime to feed his family before you stepped in and offered to pay for his groceries. Every interaction we have with another human being has the potential for good, as well as for harm. Political beliefs, personal beliefs, life choices, etc are things that we have to choose for ourselves but it’s not something we should ever judge other people on. My parents taught us that we all put our pants on one leg at a time and it doesn’t matter if you’re the President or the janitor, if you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you. It’s important to just take a second and think of other people and think of how our own attitudes and behaviors might affect someone else. None of us is perfect, but, we can choose to be better.”
HN: You have two + jobs. Tell us about your work ethic. Where did it come from? What do you think is lacking today that you could positively teach others?
T.D.
“My parents are the reason that I have the work ethic that I do today. We were brought up knowing that if you wanted something in this life you had to go out and work for it, earn it, it’s not going to be handed to you. My mom and dad both worked very hard their entire lives. They worked at the Potlatch Mill until it was shut down and then moved on to other careers. My dad was always working around the house too. He didn’t sit down for long. There was always a project that needed done. My parents are probably the two hardest working people I’ve ever known and they modeled by example. We didn’t go without, ever, but they also made sure we knew the importance of work and earning our own money. I don’t know that I can teach others that same ethic (though I did in my children and I’m going to try in my grandchildren) because it was a different time when I was growing up. (I just sounded like my parents there!)”
HN: Who inspires you? Who do you look up to?
T.D.
“Honestly, my family is my inspiration. They are such a large group of people, all with different beliefs, interests, backgrounds etc. They all work very hard and love even harder. I can’t think of a single one who wouldn’t help another person in need, even when they’re going through a tough time themselves. I look up to a lot of people, for a lot of different reasons, but the person that I’ve looked up to most, my entire life is my dad. He passed away in September, and it’s a hard adjustment to make, him not being here, but I still always remember his words of advice and his laughter, and so I still feel like he’s the one I’d say I still look up to. He is my hero.”
HN: Anything else we should know about your story?
T.D.
“I can’t think of anything else that you might want to know about me. I’m honestly just humbled by the fact that you’d choose me for this article and even want to hear what I have to say. When I started the backpacks, and then continued to do it, it’s simply because I felt called to do it. Not for any sort of recognition or anything. I just believe that we should all be doing our best, in this life, to be kind and to help others when we can.”
To follow or join Tina with her compassionate movement helping veterans in need:
HumansUnitedInKindness