By Kory Pearn
There is a powerful TV commercial featuring three children sharing their aspirations. One dreamed of becoming a doctor, another a firefighter, while the third innocently said she’d like to become a drug addict.
The weight of this dramatic illustration is significant. What you aren’t changing, you’re choosing. What does this mean, and why should you care?
We aim to create a world where firefighters can maintain their health and happiness throughout their careers, preventing disengagement and encouraging more people to join the profession. It is our responsibility to pass on to the next generation the importance of building relationships, making choices, and embracing vulnerability.
Diane Paulus’ quote, “If you don’t make things happen, then things will happen to you,” resonates deeply with our role as first responders. Whether it’s making crucial decisions on the front lines or cultivating healthy relationships, taking proactive steps is vital. Neglecting to actively nurture healthy decisions can lead to unintended outcomes such as divorce, marital strain, or dissatisfied family members.
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When new firefighters enter the fire service, they typically hope to be part of a supportive family that aids in their development and success. Yet they soon find that firefighters are often too occupied with their own lives to offer the needed support. Although this may not be fair, it is the reality.
To foster a more supportive and sustainable environment for firefighters, we must cultivate a culture that values work-life balance, encourages striving for excellence while accepting imperfections, promotes relationships based on openness and connection, emphasizes the importance of adequate rest and healthy eating, and prioritizes overall health and well-being.
By ensuring that the majority of firefighters are thriving, we can create a framework to help new firefighters stay healthy and whole. We shouldn’t try to change firefighters, but rather help them maintain who they are when they join the profession.
Professor and writer Brené Brown said, “Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.” Embracing this
mindset can pave a path toward restoration and well-being, both for individuals and the collective community.
We often joke about hearing voices, but take a moment to figure out what voice you are listening to when you’re doubting your field of choice, when arguing with a loved one, or when feeling like a failure. Maybe the voice is saying you’re doing too much—or not enough. Or maybe that voice is tainted with the strain and fallout from a mental health diagnosis and it’s not a voice you can trust anymore.
As a firefighter, it is crucial to self-reflect and determine if you are thriving or simply enduring and accepting circumstances that you may not consciously choose for yourself. It’s essential to evaluate your recent significant decisions, such as impulse purchases or missing family events due to work, for personal growth and success, both as a firefighter and as an individual.
Honest self-assessment is crucial for maintaining personal and professional well-being. As a firefighter, your identity has a significant impact on your performance, which highlights the importance of prioritizing self-care to excel in this meaningful role. Remember, it is the person behind the uniform that truly matters; therefore, it is essential to preserve and nurture what defines you. Protect and guard what makes you unique. Wear your uniform with pride, and devote the same level of excellence to preserving what makes you human and enables you to be the leader you want to be in your community.
You worked your butt off to get into the fire service—let’s do what we can to keep you there.
Kory Pearn is the editor in chief, publisher, and CEO of CRACKYL Magazine. He is a 21-year member of the fire service and an industry author and keynote speaker who acts as a passionate mental health advocate, spreading awareness on what it takes to not only survive but thrive in the dynamic job of firefighting.
