Betterment Now in the New Year

Happy New Year!

Here it is January 3, 2013. Why as I get older do the years seem to fly by. (As a friend said to me New Year’s Eve, didn’t we just do that ball drop thing about three months ago?) With a new year brings new outlooks for a betterment of one’s self or others.

I wrote a New Year’s column about me personally, and was going to print it here, but it will have to wait.

Around midnight last night, I heard over the scanner about a fully involved structure (house) fire and responded as we are supposed to in this job.

When I arrived I found dozens of firefighters, all volunteers, there, along with EMTs and a deputy.

It was an overwhelming sight as a family (with at least seven people) lost their home on the first day of the New Year.

I don’t mean to be on a soap box, again, but in the newspaper business you see a lot that you may not otherwise when responding to wrecks, fires, and other “headline” events.

Last night I saw a man, that was my classmate, and had not seen in at least 10 years watch his home burn.

I saw numerous people there to fight the fire, volunteers primarily, I remind you out in full force at midnight in the rain and cold fighting to save someone’s home.

Until you’ve been on numerous calls, you can’t imagine what happens. You might sit in traffic because of an accident and be aggravated by having to wait.

You may hear about someone losing everything, but when you’re there to watch it being lost it’s reality.

There are people all over Jasper County that have given their time to fight fires, respond to wrecks. They get out of their warm beds or leave jobs, or something important to them to serve others.

Tuesday night, there was just that.

There were firefighters from all over the county out at midnight, in a hurry to help others.

Can I name all of them? Definitely not.

But to all of you I say “thank you.”

Your selfless acts help me to have a bit of humanity in others restored. That there are still people willing to help others without so much as a “thank you” in return.

Being in public service is often times a thankless job. They get criticized and evaluated on what some higher officials think is being done.

Did I want to get out of my (sort of) warm house and take pictures of another loss? No. And I can only imagine that not everyone of the firefighters and first responders did either.

What I ask is that if you know one of these people, take some time to tell them just how much they’re appreciated.

No one ever expects a tragedy to happen to them, but when it does the fine service men and women are there without hesitation.

Be considerate of others, and be grateful for all that you have today. Start this year being thankful instead of taking what you already have for granted.

The new year tends to be a time to ask for betterment….just keep in mind that betterment may be what you already have. Enjoy 2013!