Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for my friends in the fire service. Today, I’m talking about seniority and determining when it’s time to retire.
Allow me to take you back to your high school or college English class for a second. You may have read Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.” This book tells the story of Santiago, an aging fisherman, and his long struggle to catch a giant marlin.
Folks, this isn’t just a story about fishing; it’s a deep dive into aging, wisdom, and knowing when to hang up your helmet. And that’s a message that applies directly to the world of firefighting.
Santiago, Hemingway’s protagonist, has been around the block a few times. He knows the sea like the back of his hand. But like many of us, he’s also wrestling with the fact that he’s not as young as he used to be. He’s like a veteran firefighter who’s seen and done it all but must face the difficult truth that firefighting is a young person’s game.
In the end, Santiago returns with just the marlin’s skeleton. That’s Hemingway showing us what happens if we don’t bow out gracefully.
Just like Santiago, firefighting veterans have been through it all. Their experience and know-how are like gold. But deciding when to call it a day? That’s not just about them; it’s about the whole crew, the future of the team.
“The Old Man and the Sea” tells us everything we need to know about experience, aging, and stepping down from the fire service. It’s all about the journey – knowing you’ve done a great job but also having the honor and bravery it takes to say, “I’ve had a good run, but now it’s someone else’s turn.”
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Gordon Graham signing off.
