mputnal wants to debate politics here…
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Today while finally getting to cut the yard I decided to use the push mower for about a 3rd of it. Don't ask it is a long story the way my brain works. After I got done pushing it I got on the ol John Deere and was finishing up. While I was cutting I was looking how good the yard looked after the rains and it getting cut. It was pretty satisfying. I started to look at what I had been doing since retirement. Lasted 5 months hanging around the house before I found employment. Wanted to make a positive impact, maybe I did, maybe I didn't. As the Bible says I sowed seed, hopefully positive things will come from it. I decided to try something different, sort of on the ground floor of the fire service. The jury is still out on how I feel I am doing.
While pondering all of that I determined I wasn't disappointed in my first job, I just didn't think I was successful at making a positive impact, at least to the extent I wanted.
The other day I sat down with a friend of mine and we talked about a lot of different things. This guy recently changed jobs and in talking to him he felt a change would do him good. He told me he likes the new gig and doesn't have the issues of stress. To me that takes a lot to figure out you are ready for a change and to move on to something else. Changed my perspective.
Got a friend of mine who is moving. Not like we were all kumbaya but we would catch breakfast on occasion and shoot the breeze. It was good just to sit there and talk with someone who was adjusting to life.
Then I got this the other day. For me it all ties together so thought I would share.
"100 years of tradition unimpeded by progress"
Change is hard. When leadership change occur people naturally get their panties in a wad. I don't know who said it but I share it a lot. " Firefighters hate 2 things, Change and The Way Things Are". Everyone gets excited about that change when guys promote up within the department until the change we think should happen, DOESN'T. Now we are upset because we as Firefighters weren't consulted, or the change wasn't expected. I tell you this from experience. I have seen hires from the outside who attempted change and there was some push back. Character matters also. Some people may have liked them but others not so much. Now when folks get promoted from within we act the same way as those who hired from outside, character matters. Up until recently they were line officers. They had a lot of Firefighters who wanted to work for them! Now we say " they have forgotten where they came from" and "they aren't looking out for us". Sometimes when I hear this, I think, I have heard this before cause I have said it. There was a Chief I worked with for a little over 10 years. One of the phrases he would use, I always wondered if it was only to me, "stay in your lane". Of course more often than not, I was like a drunk driver on a Saturday Night Bender and couldn't stay in my lane if I tried. My point in all of this, is change is hard, leading is hard and following is hard. Be careful that those around you aren't influencing you getting out of your lane. If you are being negatively influenced by those around you maybe it is time to find different influences. We need to remember those on the line have a smaller lane, a smaller one lane country road. We should be prepared to do our jobs, training and daily duties. Those other guys who lead and are accountable to not just those in the Houses, but also the elected officials and the Taxpayer. Long time ago there was a prayer I learned,
The Serenity Prayer:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Trust me when I say, I am still learning to stay in my lane.
Still the Best Job I Ever Had!
✌
While pondering all of that I determined I wasn't disappointed in my first job, I just didn't think I was successful at making a positive impact, at least to the extent I wanted.
The other day I sat down with a friend of mine and we talked about a lot of different things. This guy recently changed jobs and in talking to him he felt a change would do him good. He told me he likes the new gig and doesn't have the issues of stress. To me that takes a lot to figure out you are ready for a change and to move on to something else. Changed my perspective.
Got a friend of mine who is moving. Not like we were all kumbaya but we would catch breakfast on occasion and shoot the breeze. It was good just to sit there and talk with someone who was adjusting to life.
Then I got this the other day. For me it all ties together so thought I would share.
"100 years of tradition unimpeded by progress"
Change is hard. When leadership change occur people naturally get their panties in a wad. I don't know who said it but I share it a lot. " Firefighters hate 2 things, Change and The Way Things Are". Everyone gets excited about that change when guys promote up within the department until the change we think should happen, DOESN'T. Now we are upset because we as Firefighters weren't consulted, or the change wasn't expected. I tell you this from experience. I have seen hires from the outside who attempted change and there was some push back. Character matters also. Some people may have liked them but others not so much. Now when folks get promoted from within we act the same way as those who hired from outside, character matters. Up until recently they were line officers. They had a lot of Firefighters who wanted to work for them! Now we say " they have forgotten where they came from" and "they aren't looking out for us". Sometimes when I hear this, I think, I have heard this before cause I have said it. There was a Chief I worked with for a little over 10 years. One of the phrases he would use, I always wondered if it was only to me, "stay in your lane". Of course more often than not, I was like a drunk driver on a Saturday Night Bender and couldn't stay in my lane if I tried. My point in all of this, is change is hard, leading is hard and following is hard. Be careful that those around you aren't influencing you getting out of your lane. If you are being negatively influenced by those around you maybe it is time to find different influences. We need to remember those on the line have a smaller lane, a smaller one lane country road. We should be prepared to do our jobs, training and daily duties. Those other guys who lead and are accountable to not just those in the Houses, but also the elected officials and the Taxpayer. Long time ago there was a prayer I learned,
The Serenity Prayer:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Trust me when I say, I am still learning to stay in my lane.
Still the Best Job I Ever Had!
✌
You probably do not want to hear this but we are more alike than we are different. I enjoyed this personalized post a lot. Thank you!
Love your story. It reminds me of changes taking place all around us especially during and after the pandemic. I have many friends and family who have taken this time to change their lives in big and small ways. Change can be very difficult. It can also be rewarding, challenging and just what you need.
Do you mind if we move your post to a new thread for discussion?
That is fine.