Family Time First...

By Safe Call Now®'s Steve Gutzler

I recently had the privilege of having a breakfast meeting with my son, Jayce. We sat in a restaurant overlooking Lake Washington on a beautiful, crisp blue day. He is in law enforcement and we were meeting with a fellow officer. As we sat relaxed, I was reminded again of how valuable and precious family time is. I have dozens of meetings with business professionals, I pour into them daily. 

Questions for 2016: How often and how much will I pour into my family? Do I really believe family is first? And do I show my family that they are first? I may not be able to schedule the same hours I do for work, but I can be far more intentional with the hours I have for them. 

I have aggressive goals for 2016, including publishing a book, speaking nationally and coaching over 30 leaders monthly. One goal I do not want to miss is quality family time with my wife, three children, and five grandchildren. I read something recently that inspired me to devote more quality time for those I love. I hope it inspires you to make 2016 a year of Family First. 

Jonathan Edward, born in 1702, was a theologian, pastor and President of Princeton. He lived in many places over his lifetime, including Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts, but regardless of his busy life he was a devoted family man. In 1900, A.E. Winship studied 1,400 descendants of Jonathan and his wife Sarah. Among them, there were: 

·         13 college presidents

·         65 professors

·         100 lawyers

·         30 judges

·         66 physicians, including a medical school dean

·         80 held public offices, including: 3 U.S. Senators, 3 mayors, 3 governors, a Controller of the U.S. Treasury and one U.S. Vice President

Were all of Edward's descendants high achievers? Certainly not, but the pattern is clear: A good family is an incredible advantage in life. One of the best investments you and I can make in 2016 is quality family time. 

"While you can't do much about your ancestors, you can influence your descendants greatly."

Blessings to You (and your family),

Steve Gutzler

My Husband... The Police Officer

By Melissa Littles - The Police Wife Life

"I'm fine"
"It's all good"
"I'll get a Red Bull or some coffee, I'm good"
"It's just four extra hours, we need the money"
"We can open presents on my lunch break, it's holiday pay"

Overtime, grant shifts, off duty security..... It’s the way many officers pay their mortgages and buy groceries.  For those who literally find a way to live with extra jobs, it is mind blowing that there are so many departments that don't allow officers to work off duty security.  Those are the officers with completely separate jobs on the side.  They have lawn services, pest control services, construction jobs....whatever it takes to pay the bills.  We are no different.

We went from a two income household to one. Within a year we went from doing pretty great after 15 years in with two incomes to struggling to avoid foreclosure on our newly built home after a diagnosis of autism, dysphagia, apraxia and seizures in our son.  Medical bills piled up, I couldn't keep my job because of all the therapy and specialist appointments... co-pays after insurance jumped quickly to over $600.00 a month... we lost over $4,000 a month in income with me staying home. It didn't take long for it to hit us like a brick.

So, he does what he does.  My husband, the police officer, heads off to his normal 40 hours per week, which never remains just 40 hours.... he picks up every DUI and seat belt enforcement grant shift he can, every estate sale, school dance, football game, pharmacy security, church security, funeral escort....you name it.... if he can work it, he will sign up for it.  Because we need the money and he will do whatever it takes to provide for his family. 

When I was 9... PTSD, Alcohol and my Father

By Janelle Cronk - Acadia Healthcare

When I was 9 -- I was a tomboy with a golden retriever.  Not a care in the world but the thrill of an adventure. I loved baseball, swimming and getting lost with my dog in the woods.

My father took care of me mostly.  He was, in my eyes, the greatest man in the universe.  Funny, charismatic, magnetic, handsome and lit up every room he walked in.  He loved being a dad. And I loved him more than anything on earth. …. (Except for Jesse my dog).

When I was 9-- I woke to a horrible sound. It was my father screaming in a cold sweat, crying and unable to stop shaking.  He would call them “night terrors”.  He would get real down and closed off for days after one of these episodes.

When I was 9 --My dad was always the athlete.  He was the best tennis player, golfer and Skier.  He owned a great restaurant and was the best cook in the world. Anything he put his heart into would shine.

When I was 9 -- I could hear the screaming.  Calling her horrible names. I had a friend sleepover when he and my stepmom were in a terrible fight.  Amy and I could hear them running around the house and hitting each other.  I was so sick that my friend had to see this part of my life. I called the police on him that night…He was choking her and it needed to stop.  I will never forget how my stomach ached with shame.

Financial Wellness for #1stresponders...

By Safe Call Now®'s Captain Brian Nanavaty

Safe Call Now® and Financial Wellness

“If you fail to plan- you are planning to fail.” Benjamin Franklin

Studies show the #1 reason for the dissolution of relationships in the first 7 years is financial discord. Add to that the stress of a career spent as a first responder and it is no wonder many enter their golden years unprepared physically, emotionally and most of all financially. 

The professionals at My Money Wellness© have teamed up with Safe Call Now® to offer financial education and literacy training using a fun and motivating three part concept:

Classroom/Online Workshop: The experts at My Money Wellness© utilize an easy to follow workbook to walk students through an understanding and application of the following financial concepts: 

• ·         Budgeting and Planning for Emergencies
• ·         Tackling Debt
• ·         Relationships and Money
• ·         Wealth Building 

The financial themes are presented in an open workshop style format designed specifically for the public safety professional and the first responder family. 

Web-Based Training: In addition to the classroom workshop, Safe Call Now® and My Money Wellness© also offer ongoing online education. Web- based learning helps the student build on the classroom training through long-term reinforcement. This ongoing education allows public safety professionals to refocus and gain control of their money, secure their future, and create peace of mind through long-lasting behavioral changes.

Individual Coaching:  Successful individuals, like professional athletes, musicians, and actors have coaches to help them stay on track by focusing on areas specific to their individual needs. Financial coaching enhances an individual’s finances in the following areas: 

• ·         Wealth Building
• ·         Fine Tuning
• ·         Crisis
• ·         Accountability

Join the thousands who have become financially literate through the workshops, online education and coaching provided by the professionals at My Money Wellness©. For more information on Financial Wellness Contact Safe Call Now® Director of Training and Curriculum Brian Nanavaty at BN@safecallnow.org or 317-339-5118.

Teach our Children Well...

By Karen Solomon - Hearts Beneath the Badge

There are two extreme ways some people seem to view life. One says, “Life is long, painful, and we all die in the end.” Wow, that’s a downer. Are you sure you want to keep reading? Well, how’s this? “Life is a sweet, melodious journey filled with love and joy.” Much better. But what about the truths in between? What about the balance of dark and light? And more importantly, how do you communicate that to a child? How do we ensure they look at life as a joy and a gift, in spite of the moments when it feels like a chore? How do we let them know they are valuable and their life will be what they make it, not what someone else says it is?

It’s not easy. I know, because somewhere along the line, I didn’t get the message. My failure to see the glass as half-full brought me to my knees. Actually, it was more like I was in sand up to my neck. Laxatives became my best friend, and they are related to bulimia. Bulimia was more than happy to bring in her friend depression, and then completed the party with her close relative: suicide attempts.

Thankfully, hospitalization jumped in and helped me out. She had a little help from the small voice in my head that managed to filter through all the poisonous noise and guide me back to health. This whole process started when I was 11 years old and ended with three suicide attempts at age 25.

In reality, it hasn’t really “ended.” Each day is a new silent struggle, but I manage to get through it by telling myself the things I wish someone had told me when I was young and knowing that while it’s true life will have its end, somewhere in between there will be happiness.

What are those things I wish someone had told me? Well, it’s not just saying something; it’s living and emulating behaviors. Things that will transform a child into a compassionate, self-aware adult. In the ever-changing game of life, there is not one magic formula to prevent a person from spiraling into depression, succumbing to the lies of a bully, or continuing a cycle of violence. We never know what action or affirmation might pull someone from the rubble—so we’ve got to offer as many as we can.