RIDE ALONG CHRONICLES

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**RE-RELEASE** This is the time of year to stop and think about all the things that we could be grateful for. It has been a tough few years for many and lately we have been seeing on many different platforms people focusing on gratitude to offset their dark times. We decided to focus on gratitude and one of the things we found was an online article from GradSchool.cornell.edu, called The Gratitude Project. It’s a research study by Cornell University that really broke down the concept of gratitude and its effects on people and their overall wellbeing. The facilitator of this Gratitude Project, Robert A Emmons, a professor of psychology at Southern California, Davis, an author of many books and the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude. Emmon’s believed that people who express gratefulness on a regular basis have higher levels of positivity, overall better wellness, and determine. His research also showed that the practice of gratitude can have significant and lasting PHYSICAL effects on a person’s life such as lower blood pressure, better immune function and more quality sleep. For those in the first responder world, practicing gratitude could prove beneficial to one's mental and physical wellbeing. We are grateful to all of you who encourage and support us and we grateful to all first responders who put it all on the line. So, come ride along with us! https://gradschool.cornell.edu/alumni/alumni-newsletter/the-gratitude-project/#:~:text=The%20Gratitude%20project%20is%20based,essential%20qualities%20for%20graduate%20students.

In this Spotlight Monday episode, we shine the light on how better sleep can help us manage stress more effectively. During challenging times, rest is often the first thing we lose—but it’s also one of our strongest tools for resilience. Learn practical habits that support restorative sleep and help you stay balanced through life’s toughest moments. So come ride along with us! (www.ncoa.org)

**Re-Release** On today’s Spotlight Monday, we shine the light on the impact the holidays can have on first responders. The holiday season is often a time that brings significant personal stress to first responders because of the job and these stressors are often not discussed or acknowledged. Realizing this impact and learning some healthy ways and helpful tips to prepare and cope during this time can be very beneficial to the overall emotional and physical wellbeing of first responders, and thus reduce potential stress within their families. So come ride along with us! https://www.cordico.com/2020/12/18/tips-for-helping-first-responders-families-adjust-to-the-holidays-2/

***Re-Release*** To kick off the holiday season we decided to highlight a previous guest who shared some insightful tips on how to address all the holiday disappointments and issues that affect first responder families. Our interview with Robin addressed so many common communication issues and disagreements that we have all faced at some point in our relationships. Her “1 to 10 scale” was fantastic to identify, as a couple, what holidays are important as a family. So, come ride along with us!

In this Spotlight Monday episode, we explore how therapeutic journaling can be a powerful tool for healing and self-reflection. Writing with purpose helps process emotions, reduce stress, and uncover meaning in difficult experiences. Learn simple ways to use journaling as a path toward clarity, peace, and resilience. So come ride along with us! (www.PositivePsychology.com)

On today’s episode we shine the light on struggle or regret. So why do we avoid struggle or hide it from others when we are dealing with it? Why don’t we embrace struggle and use it to learn and grow from instead? It seems that many of us believe if we are struggling it means we are weak, and can’t handle the stressors going on in our life. According to the online article,” Decoding the Human Experience: The Importance of Struggle”, from PsychologyToday.com. There are 3 key points to struggle: * Struggle is a key feature of everyone's life. * Most people do not understand the nature and meaning of struggle.* Our struggles help define our values and focus, and should guide our life trajectory.” Sometimes the things or areas we are struggling with in our life are beyond our control. But, oftentimes, the thing that means the most to us helps us focus on achieving it. To learn more about the importance of struggle, you can read the full article at Decoding the Human Experience: The Importance of Struggle | Psychology Today (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-universe-within/202408/decoding-the-human-experience-the-importance-of-struggle/amp). For more information and resources please visit us at www.ridealongchronicles.com. So, come ride along with us!

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On today's episode we shine the light on the misconceptions and consequences of over functioning. According to the online article, "The Subtle Sign of Over Functioning" from Kathleen Smith at The Anxious Overachiever.substack.com, “Overfunctioners may be seen as reliable and responsible, but it can have negative consequences like burnout, stress, and anxiety.” A main reason why many become over functioners is to manage anxiety for feeling helpless and vulnerable from past experiences or traumas. It’s a way to control one’s environment to try avoid the unpredictable. Over functioning is typically not a personality trait, it BECOMES a survival mechanism. This article explains how learning to draw boundaries for one self and practice the strategies discussed can help break this habit. To learn more about how to recognize and overcome being an over functioner, you can read the full article at: https://theanxiousoverachiever.substack.com/p/the-subtle-signs-of-overfunctioning For more information and resources please visit us at www.ridealongchronicles.com and be sure to catch on the next ride!

On today's episode we meet Amy who highlights her incredible 20-year law enforcement career. She shares her mental and physical wellness journey she experienced along the way. She explains how she could no longer survive on luck and had to finally put her health first and take charge of her future after retirement. So, come ride along with us!

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On Part 2 of today's special episode we meet Karen, a police wife, a police mother, a teacher, and co-owner of Serving First Responders. Karen shares her profound experience over decades with her first responder and how she adjusted to his career including shift work, multiple injuries, sleep issues, rotating assignments, and an unexpected retirement. She explains how supporting her husband and raising their kids didn't hinder her from having a thriving career. Karen shares how communication and respect kept her marriage in tact and her identity her own. She also explains how her husband's early retirement and emotional struggle with it, led them to their non-profit organization, Serving First Responders. So come ride along with us!

On part one of today's Special Episode we meet Ty, a retired combat veteran, former police officer, and co-owner of Serving First Responders. Ty details his personal journey from his military experience, his calling to become an officer, how he served his communities, his retirement plan and how it all ultimately led him to starting his non-profit organization, Serving First Responders, with his wife Karen. Ty shares the challenges and injuries he faced during his law enforcement career. He also explains how constant open communication with his wife and family support helped him overcome his biggest struggles, and continue his mission of service after retirement. To learn more about Serving First Responders visit https://servingfirstresponders.com/. So come ride along with us!

On today's Spotlight Monday, we shine the light on an amazing resource our guest, Sarah, from Episode 50 shared with us. She detailed her experience attending a resiliency and meditation training seminar called Mindful Badge with her first responder. Mindful Badge believes you should “Train to Thrive." They are a team of certified mindfulness trainers that deliver evidence-based training for better optimal health, emotional growth, and resilience and trauma competency. Sara explained how finally revealing some of her emotional fears and anxieties about her first responder’ his career at this seminar affected her personally and how it helped them increase their communication. You can hear more about Sarah’s experience at this seminar and why she recommended it by listening to her full interview and learn more about other Mindful Badge programs at mindfulbadge.com. For additional information and resources, please visit us at ridealongchronicles.com and be sure to catch us on the next ride!

On today's special episode we meet Alison, a licensed mental health provider, and owner of Pinpoint Behavioral Health Solutions, who focuses on first responders, their families, and their agencies. A first responder spouse herself, Alison details her journey living and working in this arena. She also shares some of her professional expertise on how first responder couples can have healthier relationships and personal coping strategies. She provides some tips on how public safety agencies can become less reactionary about employee wellness by offering more preventative care programs such as her "Neck Up Check Up" program. Check out the amazing professional services Alison and her Team provide at www.pinpointbhs.com. So come ride along with us! For more information or resources please visit us at www.ridealongchronicles.com.

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*** Re-Release** Today we meet Hope, a 17-year police dispatcher, who shares her story of being the first line of communication between those in need and those who protect and serve. Her experiences remind us that police dispatchers are the unsung heroes in the first responder world and they are not immune from the same stresses of shift work, traumas and managing a work-life balance that police officers and firefighters face. So, come ride along with us!

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