Oct 27 (edited) • 🧠 Mental Health
I’m not trying to be better than anyone
I’m not trying to be better than anyone. I just want to be better than I was yesterday.
Today, I needed a reminder of that — from my son, of all people. Funny how sometimes the lessons we’ve tried to teach our kids end up being handed right back to us when we need them most.
This time of year always hits me differently. The change in season, the darker mornings, the slower pace — it all makes me reflect more than usual. Add in retirement, and it’s been a real adjustment. For so long, my life was built around structure, urgency, and purpose. Every day had a mission. Every call had meaning. When that stops, it’s easy to lose your footing a bit — to feel like the ground shifts beneath you.
I’ll be honest — some days I wake up and feel like I’m still trying to figure out what “normal” even looks like now. The rhythm of life after decades in the fire service is quieter, but sometimes that quiet feels too loud in your head.
So yeah, today my son gave me a nudge — a simple reminder to get back on track. Not to chase perfection or to compare myself to anyone else. Just to focus on being a little bit better than I was yesterday. More grounded. More patient. More present.
We all have seasons of transition, and this is one of mine. If you’re in that place too — where you’re trying to find your footing again — just remember, it’s okay to stumble. What matters is that you keep showing up for yourself.
Because growth doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it whispers, “Try again tomorrow.”
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I’m not trying to be better than anyone
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35-year firefighter, photographer and mental health advocate.
Founder of DheillyFire Photography and Unbreakable. Strength with purpose and community
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