So here I sit. Alone, in my sleeping bag as light drops of rain pelt the top of my tent. We finished Critical 80 four days ago. We’re on day number three, fire number two, and roll number one of the season. Already. Things are moving rather quickly, and it looks like it won’t be slowing down any time soon. I haven’t been on many spring fires in my career yet, and this is my first season where I’ve actually seen snow accumulate on top of a fire that had burned only a day or two prior. Oh, and said fire is at over 8000’ of elevation. It’s a strange start, to me anyway, coming from my eastern Washington wildfire roots.
It took a little while to shake that preseason anxiety and lose those jitters that come right before the start of a season. I don’t know where all that comes from, because I’ve always been pretty even keeled. And I know I can’t be the only one that feels it before everything gets going. Maybe it’s due to more self awareness. Maybe it’s a little bit of imposter syndrome. Which is a strange thing, because I’m no imposter, and I’m quite competent at what I do. Er, at least I like to think I am. I think maybe the newness of it all brings those feelings on. Or it could be less of the newness and more of the “leaving half of my life behind” type of thing. Tough to say. But this year I am the new guy, on a new crew, with new SOPs, new leadership, new crewmembers, in a new location, new, new, new. While it does have its similarities in regard to fire in general, it’s all different. It’s not what I’m used to. It’s changed. Some folks don’t like change. But then again, how the hell ya ever gonna grow if you don’t change it up a bit and adapt to the new. Being adaptable to ever-evolving situations is something that our profession requires because that is the environment that we all too often find ourselves in. Everything is always changing.
One thing that comes with the start of any new fire season, or more specifically, any new crew, is navigating the social hierarchy, chain of command, social structure, human totem pole, clique-y-ness, people game, whatever the hell you wanna call it. It can be tricky. If you make it tricky. Or, you could just be you, take every encounter as an opportunity to learn, and make it easy. Well, easier. Less tricky. You get it.
I’ve come to find you meet folks from all sorts of walks of life. Some easy walks, some tough walks, some crawls, hops, skips, jumps, leaps, stumbles, and wanders. The point being, each person comes from something different. No two crewmembers are the same, see things the same, experience things the same, etc. Every one of them, every one of US has a different story. And each of us deserves respect. However, I don’t think that means each of us shouldn’t try to earn respect, because I am a huge believer in the sentiment that respect is earned, not given. Maybe I should clarify, because put that way, it sounds kind of murky. Here’s what I think about respect: Each person should be treated with a baseline of respect. Period. Human decency, good manners, it’s not that hard. That part is inherent. From there, respect is earned based off of your character, your heart, the way you treat other people, and especially how you treat yourself. There, less murky? Pretty simple I think. I’d even go out on a limb to say that most would agree.
We can go back to a good little Jocko quote, “Simple. Not easy.” I think it resonates here too, in how we treat people. Because without fail, in each aspect of your life, you will run into people that just don’t operate the same way as you. Sometimes it’s no big deal, sometimes, we make it a bigger deal than it needs to be. I’m not saying that we have to like every person we come in contact with, hell no. That’s not the point.
I recently read a book called The Four Agreements, and this is how they go:
- Be impeccable with your word.
- Don’t take anything personally.
- Don’t make assumptions.
- Always do your best.
I’m not gonna sum up the whole book for ya, but the two that really stand out to me in relation to this topic are, “be impeccable with your word” and “don’t take anything personally.” To be impeccable with your word basically means to use your word for good, and only good. Everything that comes out of your mouth that is directed toward someone else should be said with love (big scary “L” word, I know). I’ll be the first to admit, that ain’t always the case. But we should try for it to be, or in other words we should always do our best. Whether you’re the rookie talking to your superiors, or you’re the superior talking to the rookies, you ought to be impeccable with your word. Say what you mean, and mean what you say. From a rookie perspective, if my superiors are impeccable with their word it builds trust, earns respect, and creates team cohesion. All very important things in our world. From a leaders perspective, if rookies are impeccable with their word it shows integrity, character, grit, heart, and commitment. Again, all very important characteristics.
When we aren’t impeccable with our word, or when others are not impeccable with their word, it’s important for us to remember number 2, “Don’t take anything personally.” Our “best” won’t stay consistent every single day, that would be unrealistic. And when our best isn’t better than it ought to be, we can slip out of the habit of being impeccable with our word. We can say things without much forethought, not realizing the impacts they might have. Or others can say things without realizing the impacts that their words will have. And when our ears are on the receiving end of those words, we gotta remember not to take it personally. To have a short memory that forgets and forgives quickly and easily. To make sure that words don’t become more than just words. Because holding on to words said by others that we don’t agree with only breeds resentment. And resentment builds. And when resentment builds, bad things happen. We develop a whole construct about who people are, what they think, what their intentions are, and why they do and say the things that they do and say. We are breaking agreement number 3, and we are making assumptions. What’s that saying about assuming? “Assuming” only makes an “ass” out of “u” and “me” (assume). Something like that. Don’t do that. Don’t take it personally. Move on. Come back to it later if it really bothers you that much. But move past it. Be the grease in the gears and not the sand in the cogs. Simple, not easy.
I didn’t write this to tell you how to behave. You’re an adult, carry yourself how you see fit. But I did write this with the intention of sending out a quiet reminder to do your best. At treating people better, speaking with integrity, not going too hard on yourself, and just flat out being decent. God knows we need more of that these days. Save everybody a few gray hairs. Now stretch and go to bed. Or go do something productive. I’ll update ya when the next blog is out, if ya care. I won’t assume you do, or don’t. Cheers.
-Fuecks
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