Lessons Learned...

I started this blog to share my experience about going through the Citizens Academy. Little did I know this year would be such a challenging year. Attending the Citizens Academy helped give me a sense of routine when my routine was abruptly interrupted. I got a little off topic throughout the blog but that's okay. Life doesn't always go as planned, neither do blogs. The Johnson County Sheriff's Office Citizens Academy may be over (for my class) but my experiences are not...

It's been nearly 3 years since I first learned Johnson County has a Sheriffs Office. How did I learn JC has a Sheriffs Office? My bad habit of not renewing my car registration on time caught up with me. It's a little more complicated than that but nothing major and not what I want to blog about today.

What I do want to say is...  that mistake introduced me to Master Deputy Denise Baker of the JC Sheriffs Office which started a chain of events for me that helped change my life in a positive direction. It's hard to explain but how you treat people when they are going through an issue or difficult time can make the difference between that person continuing down a negative path or making a positive change in their life.

I was so surprised by how friendly and professional Deputy Baker was that I decided to tell someone about it. Little did I know the person I told knew Deputy Baker. Valerie laughed at my story which made it so much easier for me to then tell her what else was going on in my life. If you have someone in your life that you can say anything to without reservation, you know what I am talking about!  Who knows if Val and I would have become friends beyond teaching CPR together if I hadn't mentioned my interaction with Deputy Baker to her?

Valerie is a probation officer by profession. That would prove helpful to me. Not because I needed a PO, I've never been arrested so no need for a PO, but rather she has seen and heard things MUCH worse than my stupid mistakes. She let me vent when I really needed someone to just listen and not be judgmental. Plus she had tips for me that I may not have otherwise gotten. I don't know if I would have gone through Financial Peace University (FPU) if Val hadn't suggested it when I asked for advice dealing with an issue.

The final lesson in FPU made a huge impact on me. It was about giving... and thus a passion was found. Volunteering has been a blessing for me! There's a saying that you get back more than you give. I couldn't agree more! When I needed help after the fire I got more help than I could imagine possible. My family, friends, coworkers and fellow volunteers jumped in to action right away. I know I wouldn't have gotten through such a difficult event without everyone's help! Thank you doesn't even begin to cover it!!!

It has been 7 months since the fire. The nightmares have mostly passed. My stress level hasn't really decreased much though. I experienced a second fire less than 2 weeks after the first one.  I have also been involved in 2 car accidents (The night of the first fire someone hit my car and damaged the driver side door as well as the mirror. It was a hit and run so unfortunately the damage is on my dime. A month later, I hit a runner. He is okay but what a sickening feeling that was to hit someone.). And right about the time of the first fire a major event occurred at work. That event has impacted me both professionally (my job description has dramatically changed) and personally (the best boss and mentor I have ever had is no longer with the organization). I have found myself resorting back to some old habits to try and deal with the stress. That's the last thing I should be doing right now! Thankfully I was able to tap in to that positive resource that has been so valuable to me (Valerie) and she reminded me that things happen for a reason and God puts people in our life for a reason! (Thanks Val!)   Deputy Baker was introduced in to my life because I needed to make a change and wasn't going to do it until I had to. I have made so many positive changes in my life since that introduction. I now get my car registration done on time, I am making better choices relating to my finances and as I mention above, I volunteer!  I don't run in to Deputy Baker much anymore and that's okay.  I managed to renew my car registration on time this year without "seeing her at QT" being the excuse to get it done!  Not renewing my car registration on time was just one of the many things I needed to be more proactive about and I am now doing better at that.  Even though Deputy Baker is no longer a part of my morning QT routine I won't forget how the mistake that introduced me to her helped change my life for the better.  Is Deputy Baker the reason I changed my life?  No, but had that been a negative interaction I bet the outcome would have been completely different.  She did nothing more than be friendly and patient with me but that allowed me to change my attitude and perspective about things thus leading to the positive changes I have made.  It was just one link in the chain of events... but it was the starting link.  We all have to start somewhere! 

This year has been the most difficult year of my life. Although I have made some positive changes in my life, I'm still human. I make mistakes. This year is no exception. A recent mistake is turning in to a difficult lesson to learn. The mistakes don't define me though. It's how I respond to the mistakes that really shapes who I am. Lessons are sometimes hard to learn but it's the lessons that strengthen us and develop us in to a unique individual.

I previously ended this long post with this lyric from Garth Brooks, "Our lives are better left to chance. I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance" because I considered meeting Deputy Baker a thing of chance and it was a painful experience (who likes being in trouble?) but I learned from it.  But maybe a more appropriate ending to this post is the lyrics from Tracy Lawrence's song "Find out who your friends are" because well... I learned who my friends are while going through the most difficult time of my life!

 http://www.cmt.com/videos/tracy-lawrence/160946/find-out-who-your-friends-are.jhtml#id=1579502