Letter

Just came back from a fire.

I'm still not satisfied with myself, but I'm picking it up.

How I wish I can turn back time and do it flawlessly.

I received a word of advice from one of my most respected mentor last night. I hope you won't misunderstand my intention. I think this is something for us all. It really is, something.

~


Hi Azmi,

That's absolutely fantastic to hear that!! Wow!! central fire station, and it's said a lot about your capabilities in being selected to handle such high profile station.

Yes, Azmi.. I still leading groups in OBS and overseas.. Age is catching up and I should think I will take a long long holiday soon.. Haha..

From your note of the letter, it seems you are brimming with pride yet at the same time laden with worries.. I usually live by the mantra, no point regretting the past; it's over & no benefit worrying about the future; I can't control that.. While there are hiccups along the way, but it has serves me well because it guided me in believing myself to deliver the best...

Such a steady stream of experience guys, I guess on your plate right now is not to so much of leading them (they know at the back of their hands on what to do) but rather using your heart to guide them as well as inspiring them.. I can't say I am very knowledgeable and it will be a 100% success but trying something with sincerity doesn't hurts..

Engage yourself with small talks with your men - listening to their fire fighting experiences, what motivates them to keep on persevering, what was their impactful moment (good and bad) and how they like you to come in to support. After you listen enough (well, might take more than a few sessions) at the same time, you have to minimally shows that you can handle your hardskills well..

It will be hard to manage with all the hoo-haas of an oldest and busiest fire station and you probably have to keep up with being mentally fir as well.. Evaluate after that it what way you think the fire station could benefit and discuss it with your "trusted" sidekicks (potential one of your longest serving men/ sergeant) as well as your drc. Once you are comfortable, involve them in asking how they think the fire station could benefit in trainings or personal development.. At this point, you do not have to share all what you have in mind. Take things one at a time..

From there, you should be able to realise their motivation, their development level and general attitude. You can choose either as formal platform or informal platform - but before doing so, do express what is it that you would like the session to come out to (a certain expectations)..

Remember, you don't have to do it alone - find a trusted, reliable crew to work with you on it. At the end of the day, they can benefit the process - cause once you leave the stations, they will pick up the skills to self develop themselves. Affirmed them when they do good, when there's boo-boos encourage them to share the incident. Just remember do not do it in a way you are asking the floor to judge him or say what's right or what's wrong.. Look after their pride, protect it yet nurture it at the same time..

Ultimately, time management and with lots of hardwork and sincerity, you can achieve at least a certain level. DO not pressure yourself too high though.. just take small steady steps!

Have a blessed day my friend!

~

It's a fence around wisdom

More often than not, they come to us in a form of a whisper.

But what will we hear if we're making the noise ourselves?

Just our own loud, unstable gears - turning away.

Silence is easily ignored by us today. Maybe in the past as well. It's its nature. But by looking at the place we're living in, it's going to be a growing challenge. Sad.

I always have a soft spot for silence.

It explains the reason why I'm not really into noisy meet-ups, parties or the busy street life. It's the reason why I'm such a nature-lover and genuinely envy fortunate people who call countrysides or quiet sub-urbs their home. A beautiful life.

It also explains why I have a great level of admiration and respect for silent individuals, who do good when no one's watching, and need no one to prove their worthiness and value. One who has a quiet heart, but a loud soul. One who surveys with empathy. One who seeks for silence, to get him closer to his God and religion. One who simply understands, what is unheard or unwritten.

It's a rarity.

And to further appreciate who they are and what they do, we have to be silent. I too, have to re-learn to be quiet again. There was a point in my life when I was basically controlling who I am, and who I aspire to be. I think I've been so absorbed with what's happening lately that I tend to treat myself like a biggie, a disorientated and deluded biggie. I'm all, in relation to nothing. To put it in the words of an emotional person - I lost my grip.

I'll blame none, but myself.

I'm sorry.

Fire Virginity

Got my first fire on the 10th of March at 4 in the morning.

Stretched my hand in front of me, and I couldn't see it at all. It was smoke logged. I've never pulled my breathing mask so tight before. It went well, thankfully. It was fortunate that the fire didn't spread to the storage of wines and whiskeys.

Told all the other appliances to return back to base after it was stable.
Stayed another 4 hours for fire investigation. (The investigation was more tiring, somehow)

I actually slept for merely an hour before the call but it was amazing how fatigue seems to disappear and all your engines start running at an instant. It was different compared to blasting 3 alarms beside my pillow to wake me up for school assignments.

But the most amazing thing for my 2nd duty was not the fire.

It was how I got to have a long talk with the people I'm in charge of. The sharing session has opened a new pair of eyes for me and hopefully, a new heart as well.

Yes, I'll remember my first fire.

But I'll definitely remember, for the first time in my life, the people who were already back at the station, waiting for me at the gate at 8 in the morning, smiling, some cheering and giving me their salute as my appliance returned back to base.

I don't think it was a sign of respect.

I feel it symbolized a pair of open arms.

I have an amazing group of people to learn from. Not just about rescue ops.

But everything else, as well.

Day and Night

There are no great men.

Only ordinary men, who have met extraordinary challenges.

Fear. Doubt. Uncertainty?

Tsk. Let's go.