Dear Diane, Congrats on your recent appointment to firefighter! What an exciting time for you. I know how hard you worked to prepare mentally and physically for a career in the fire service. The fire service is a selfless profession, and you will be serving the community and helping people when they have exceeded their ability to handle their problems….
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A Letter to My Rookie Self
Ladies, take your Seat at the Table, there is Plenty of Room
Women in the fire service have been competing for a perceived limited number of seats at the decision-making table for what seems like forever. Like some strange adult version of musical chairs, circling like vultures as we wait for the music to stop, this game feels real… and the strategy to win is cutthroat. However, underneath it all, the competition…
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An Excellent Opportunity for Growth and Humility
Equality, trophies, fairness, and privilege. Probably not the first words that come to mind when you think of the fire service. I would instead be writing about pride, service, family, courage, leadership, mentors, and community… the words that come to my mind when I think of the fire service. But I can’t in good faith continue to let the undercurrent…
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Reflecting on Wins of 2017 and Setting Intentions for 2018
Hello January! I love this month; I love the clean slate that January brings. The unknown of what will happen in the next 365 days is both exciting and scary. As the years go by, I treasure the time I have, and I welcome the lessons and opportunities to learn and grow. I also have learned to rely on faith and…
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4 Tips to Help with Loss and Grief During the Holidays
When I became a mom, I had a renewed sense of holiday spirit. I wanted to make the holiday’s memorable for my son. Because of my strong desire to create magic for him, I managed to keep my grief and depression around the holidays buried for the first couple of years of his life. But, the Universe wasn’t going to…
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