Throughout this month, I have focused on mental health, and one of the primary components of strong emotional and mental well-being is knowing your “why.”
I can’t think of a more fitting topic as we conclude the month of May and its commemoration of Law Enforcement Appreciation Month. During this month, we remember those who have fallen in service to their communities while celebrating those who have chosen this difficult and demanding calling. This month’s observances also provide inspiration for those considering service to their community as their life’s purpose.
As I shared in last week’s article, the ability to live a life of purpose rests heavily on our ability to recall, almost daily, why we are doing what we are doing. This “why” must be a constant element, sustaining us through good times and bad. It must remain the cornerstone, even as conditions and daily realities are ever-changing.
Our “why” cannot be like the branches of a tree that sway back and forth depending on the wind, but rather like the roots that hold us steady, even when the headwinds of frustration and defeat push against us.
Over the past few years, we have seen such headwinds bear down on the servants of our communities. We have watched as those who have sworn to a life of service are met with suspicion and cynicism. We have endured increases in both call volume and the violent nature of those calls. Through all of this, we endure because we know our “why.” We know that we are what stands between chaos and peace. We know that we are the ones who will run toward the danger from which everyone else is running. We know that, after a life of service to those we love, our “why” will become our legacy.
We have come a long way in how we care for those who serve us. We have come to realize and appreciate the impacts of cumulative trauma on our first responders and the need for continued focus on emotional, social, mental and spiritual wellness. We have incorporated peer-to-peer support teams, crisis debriefings and chaplaincy support to better serve those who serve us.
We are also very fortunate to serve a community that appreciates the service and sacrifice of its public servants. This appreciation is as important a wellness component as any other. Knowing that the community we serve appreciates our efforts and stands behind us during those storms fortifies our “why” and instills in us our own gratitude. The mutual respect and appreciation a community has for its protectors, and the same level of respect and appreciation those protectors have for their community, truly are the cornerstone of a safe and thriving community. Let’s make sure to share that appreciation all year long!
