What’s Your Contribution?

Before diving into this topic, let me take a moment to share a few thoughts.

I’ve got some things I need to get off my chest. First and foremost, let me be clear: I am not perfect. I am the product of failure, disappointments, and missed chances. Spoiler alert—I’m human. If you’re looking for advice from someone who’s got it all figured out and never stumbles, then feel free to close this page and forget my name.

But, if you're looking for someone who’s been through the ups and downs, who’s failed, fallen, and messed up, then I’m your Huckleberry. My only promise to you is that the product I offer won’t be flawless—but it will be real. And I’ll do my best to share what I’ve learned along the way to help others.

Now, about that question—what’s your contribution?

This isn’t meant for the Monday morning quarterbacks who’ve “been there, done that” and have all the t-shirts to prove it. Nor is this for the so-called “experts” who’ve got more miles on their keyboard than their turnout boots. I already know what your answer is—and frankly, you’re not the audience I’m speaking to. Thank you for your "contribution," though—your words of negativity and criticism have sparked a movement. A movement focused on positivity and the rejection of the harmful mindset you’ve spread.

For the majority of firefighters out there who aren’t about the negativity, I want to talk about your contributions.

As I write this, I’m reflecting on a weekend that reminded me of the very best the fire service has to offer.

I saw you smiling.
I saw you laughing.
I saw you hugging.
I saw you sweating.
I saw you learning.
I saw you teaching.

YOU are the fire service. YOU inspired me to look at my own contributions and push harder to make a positive impact on the fire service in whatever way I can. You inspired me to share my thoughts and feelings about a profession I love. You motivated me to be a better version of myself than I was yesterday.

Now, let’s get real: are you contributing to the positive image of the fire service? Or are you knocking Brotherhood and Sisterhood to the curb with your negative rhetoric? Because when you choose to spread that kind of negativity, that’s exactly what you’re doing. I see you tearing people down, and what’s even worse, you think it’s “cool” or “funny.”

The firefighter you just roasted? He’s someone’s father.
The firefighter you made fun of? She’s someone’s daughter—and she just lost her mother.
That department you blasted? Their entire annual budget is $5,793, and they’re planning a hot dog sale just to buy fuel for their trucks.

Congratulations - you just threw gasoline on the proverbial fire of positive change - and you are about to GET BURNED.

We—the MAJORITY—are done letting you use social media as a platform for hate and negativity. We’re taking it back—one post, one reel, one share at a time.

Don’t fear social media. It’s not “the great evil.”
It’s a tool—a positive tool. And if we don’t use it for good, we’ll fail to flood the cloud with the positive energy this profession deserves. So share your story. Share your passion.

I’ll ask you once more—what’s your contribution?

Let’s make this movement intentional.

#positivefirefighters