VIP of the Week: Doris Zacho
Posted on 10. Jul, 2010 by Rose M Garland in Popular Stories, VIP of the Week
VIP of the Week: Doris Zacho, The City of Chisago, Parks Department
There are times that you meet or speak to someone that makes you remember how great life can be. Doris Zacho is one of those people that make you feel good in a naturally effortless way. Although she’ll tell you she’s no angel, I believe her to be a very inspirational person, and, in my opinion, an exceptionally kind lady. I’m extremely pleased to have Doris be our VIP of the week.
After our introductions, these are some of the questions I asked her, and her responses. I’m sure you’ll see why she deserves to be this week’s VIP.
Rose M. Garland: Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?
Doris Zacho: Sure – I have three children and I’m a lucky mother: Alexandra, 23, is going to college to be a kindergarten teacher, Maxx, 20, is going to college for Auto Mechanics, and Dakota, 16, is going to a school for girls (right now, I assume)! All of my kids love children, animals, nature and realize the importance of family and of volunteering with your community– and I’m very proud that they all share these traits. I have also been married to my husband, a fisherman for 25 years.
Rose: You’ve been with the City of Chisago Parks Department for a long time haven’t you?
Doris: 6 years now, but I was on the park board and volunteered with them for 6 years before I got the position.
Rose: Do you have any favorite charities?
Doris: Without a doubt, it’d be St. Jude’s for Children.
I love children, and this charity helps prepare terminal children for their next journey, with love and kindness.
Sometimes adults just don’t get how easily children can be hurt, or manipulated. We need to care for them, and for the world, by helping to get them through tough times.
I am also a cancer survivor, and I have to say that there’s something amazing watching these little children – just watching these little ones go through it, and watching their strength, their grace, and seeing how they always just do their best. I would give them all my money if I could!
Rose: That is beautiful. Are you reading any good books?
Doris: The Bible, of course. To me, the Bible has every depiction of life that you could go through.
I’m very inspired by Mother Teresa and her poem ‘Kindness.”
(For a copy of the poem, scroll to the bottom of the page.)
RMG: Who were your heroes growing up?
Doris: My mom. She had 4 children very young, and put herself through school. Her name was Rose too! She married my father and even with 4 children, she went through cosmetology school and become a beautician. Out on the farm, she did the best she could.
We lost our home to a fire when I was 7. As an adult, I realize now what that meant to a dad and mom with young children, but what also amazes me is that my mother never showed how stressed she was. When she developed an aggressive form of cancer, at the age of 28, I had no idea of how much pain she was in – she just didn’t want to cause her children that pain.
From my mother doing all that, taking care of 4 children, getting through cosmetology school, living through a fire, and then passing from cancer at such a young age, it amazes me that as a child I couldn’t tell that she had any stress at all. I admire her so much.
RMG: Do you have any advice for a young person wanting to pursue your path, or just any advice to a young person that you wouldn’t mind sharing?
Doris: Yes – Keep your own truth. Let kindness be your mantra. Always remember that you have worth.
I’m not perfect, and neither is anyone else. Let’s just always be fun people to be around. Just really be true to yourself, because in the end, who cares what anyone says about you? In the end, you really need to love yourself, and you should not ever forget that you can change at any time in your life.
You can always change who you are, and you can always make better changes for yourself. Really believe that. Just because you may have made mistakes, don’t believe you can’t. You can.
KINDNESS
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.”
Mother Teresa
