Connections Create Magic for Health and Wellness
Changing the culture around health and wellness in the fire service takes time, patience, partnership, action, and trust.
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Connect
Latest: Connect
We Didn’t Start the Fire
In 1989, Billy Joel, a great American musician (for you young people), released “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” The song covers nearly every major figure and event between 1949 (the year Joel was born) and 1989, in three minutes. The premise of the hit piece was to outline all the major events one may experience in their lifetime, emphasizing that no one is immune to hard times.
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The Power of No
No means No. Have you ever been told this? Well, the truth is “no” never just means “no.” Wouldn’t you agree there is always so much more meaning attached to it when you are on the receiving end of it?
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Firefighter Parents and Teenagers: Navigating Challenges and Strengthening Connections
The unwavering courage of firefighters is undeniable. But what about when they head home? Firefighters as parents face unique challenges when raising teenagers - ask anyone who survived those infamous years. Erratic schedules, the constant unpredictable nature, and the emotional toll of the job can create a gap in communication and understanding. However, with a little effort, firefighter parents and teenagers can build strong, supportive relationships. One that might even pass the firefighting bug onto the next generation.
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Wait… Are We the Problem?
I often wonder why the fire service isn’t better off than it is, and as any good firefighter does, I begin to formulate plans that will fix all of these problems. Get two or more firefighters involved in the problem-solving process for even better results. This proven technique has stood the test of time in quickly pinpointing those who are to blame. However, if you find yourself in one of those honest moments of reflection, you might discover some things that make the wheels fall off of all those theories. You might realize that you are the problem.
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Married To A Firefighter… Plan on Not Planning
This week’s been a strange one. In our family, there’s a lot to juggle. I work full-time, my husband is on call to go fight wildfires as well as work his regular shifts, and we have two kids who are highly engaged in sports, friends, and activities.
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Do You Have A Hostile Workplace?
There are many good things about working in Fire. One of them is the sense of “brotherhood” and “family” that is frequently brought up. But a workplace bully can sour that brotherhood. But what happens when this isn’t the case? What happens when you are working in a station or on a crew that simply doesn’t get along?
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Our Relationship with Morals
Around the kitchen table, there is no shortage of advice. We listen in on the newest relationship conflict, the justification for questionable behaviors, and the self-righteous indignation we are all susceptible to as either the participant or the bystander. We subjectively define what is acceptable and rarely take the time to measure up our behavior to any particular standard.
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How do We Maintain Our Love for the Job?
From a broad perspective, it is essential that our industry remains relevant and strives to meet the needs of our respective communities. Relevancy is often associated with funding approval and municipal support. There are several ways to increase awareness and involvement which may lend toward our goal of maintaining our love for the job.
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Make Willpower Work for YOU!
No one ever argues against the concept of willpower: it’s a great tool to have in your shed. Wise self-regulation is key to many social and interpersonal relationships, keeps us out of trouble, and can determine how well we do at reaching long-term goals.
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