Episode 48 Tia Deloatch
Moving from place to place in the military can be tough. Learning new friends and social circles is part of the challenging territory that is military life. It is tough for many reasons. Not the least of which is trying to learn personalities at a fast enough pace to become close, but not so fast as to overlook reasons to not be friends. I’m not speaking of anything particularly offensive, but nuanced habits not aligning with your values might otherwise deter you from friendships if known at the onset of the friend-development stage.
My next guest is of no risk to that.
See, some people you meet, and you find the spark of life in their presence. They are the center of the room—akin to the sun at the center of our solar system. Their radiant personalities infect all those around them. Where darkness exists in people’s lives at parties, these personalities illuminate those trapped by the tragedies of life. They are the beacons we most need when we feel lost or in need of direction. The gift they possess is their unawareness of their power.
Tia Deloatch is just that individual.
Tolstoy wrote in Anna Karenina, “He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.” Tolstoy’s quote is placed in the context of a man in admiration and love for Anna. In a different context, Tia is the sun-like object radiating love to others.
Tia and I have a wonderful conversation about her profession and development as a counselor, her life growing up in Tennessee, the life of a military spouse, and even her time in Las Vegas with her husband. They’ll be returning there soon.
Tia, working in public education, starched me in disbelief when she told me she would never be able to retire as a military spouse. This makes sense as she explained further. As a public educator, the state pays her pension. If she is always moving and following her husband, she forgoes the opportunity to develop the necessary tenure to receive a pension. Thus, the military spouse-educator is left without the pension to reflect the years put into the public education profession. I was so floored by this unintentional consequence of being a military spouse and educator that I have since reached out to the Mississippi State Legislature to try and bring awareness to this issue. Currently, the conversation has reached the State Senate Chairman for Education. Hopefully we can gain some traction here.
Tia is one of my favorite guests. She has a love for all those around and a vigor for fun. She brings people closer by her presence. Her presence stifles trepidation in social circles and she unites people from all walks of life. She truly is a beautiful and inspiring woman who is extremely sophisticated, educated, and entertaining. Her husband has the total package in this young lady. I’m excited and honored to know them both. I’m also excited and honored to bring her to life in this podcast. You’re going to love this one.
Everyone please welcome, Tia Deloatch.