Name: Tiffany Taylor City: Nashville , TN | @IAmTiffanyTaylor
Dad’s Name: Dennis R. Taylor, Sr.
Describe your relationship with your Father and how did that impact you?
My relationship with my dad has always been one where he established lines of open communication that included unconditional love and wise guidance. He always worked to maintain a bridge of relatability regardless of our generational gap, which has helped me in choosing to meet others where they are with a perspective that as humans we all have more in common than we may realize.
What’s the best thing you’ve learned from your Father?
Leaving a lifesaving legacy is important. When I was growing up, my dad was an avid blood donor. His reasons for donating blood to help patients inspired me to become a blood donor at the age of 17 and to continue giving into adulthood. My dad gracefully taught me to take the excuse out of giving back while lovingly showing me the significance of making an impact to serve others in times of inconvenience.
Additionally, my dad’s father influenced him to become a blood donor. My grandfather was a U.S. Army medic in World War II where he saw firsthand the need for blood for both Black and white soldiers who were injured yet witnessed the impact of segregated blood policies that extended beyond the war. Thankfully, my grandfather lived to see a day where years of activism, protests and collaboration with blood banking organizations led to inclusive blood programs rid of color lines, and over the years, my dad and grandad would donate blood together when their work schedules aligned. Today, I’m proud to say I am a third generation blood donor because of my dad and late grandad.
What struggles did you face in your relationship with your Dad and how did you get through them?
There have only been a few times we did not see eye-to-eye on situations related to family decisions. However, we were able to get through those times by listening to one another and expressing ourselves clearly from a place of respect and dignity for each other. After sharing, my dad would typically end by saying “Okay, let’s pray about this.” That would give us an opportunity to submit our concerns by faith to God and trust him to guide us in working the matters out to a place of resolve.
What has your relationship with your Father taught you about what to look/not look for in your partner?
My parents were high school sweethearts and have ben married for 50 years. My relationship with my dad has taught me the importance of how to treat the ones you love. On Valentine’s Day, my dad would shower my mom as well as my sister and I with candy and gifts to remind us that we were loved. I also watched him display love and affection toward his parents by maintaining consistent communication and fellowship with them throughout their lives. That type of unconditional love helped me to develop a healthy love for myself and therefore I desire a partner who loves God, himself and his family, and values loyalty and commitment.
How has your relationship with your Father shaped the woman you are today?
My relationship with my dad has shaped the woman I am today by instilling in me the importance of leading with love and being a positive influence in everyday life by inspiring others to join you in doing good works. Our relationship has also taught me the responsibility I have for cultivating and protecting my joy, peace and well-being regardless of what is going on in the world around me. Our relationship guides the mission critical work I do in biomedical communications every day because he instilled in me the value of making a difference in the lives of others.
If you could write a short letter to your father, starting with “Dear Father,” what would you say?
My relationship with my dad has shaped the woman I am today by instilling in me the importance of leading with love and being a positive influence in everyday life by inspiring others to join you in doing good works. Our relationship has also taught me the responsibility I have for cultivating and protecting my joy, peace and well-being regardless of what is going on in the world around me. Our relationship guides the mission critical work I do in biomedical communications every day because he instilled in me the value of making a difference in the lives of others.
