What an incredibly busy Autumn! For most of us, the start of the Fall season generally marks the beginning of starting something new. And with the season almost behind us, it’s important to reflect on what has been accomplished.

I’ve climbed a 100ft. Sutphen Fire Truck Aerial Ladder, repelled a fire tower, received training and certification in AHA cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and First Aid, greeted Med Flight Helicopter & Pilots, extricated an SUV in conjunction with providing emergency medical treatment practice, participated in hands-on fire extinguisher training using a small controlled fire, and experienced a Live Burn, all along with the many joys of being a mom running a carpool from school to afterschool activities like Football and Hockey practice.

Needless to say my hectic fall schedule resulted in an incredible experience with some very special people in the Washington Township Fire Department Citizens Fire Academy (CFA).  It was truly an amazing experience to spend every Wednesday night for ten weeks learning and experiencing a behind the scenes study of our local fire department.  The course was taught by veteran fire fighters and fire safety professionals designed for adults interested in learning about the tools, processes, procedures, risks, and rewards of serving in the fire service.  Considering the value of my experience (priceless), it was hard to imagine that the course was at no cost – FREE.  I am grateful to Chief Alan Woo, Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, Training Manager James Ross, Administrative Manager Anna Worman and Department Coordinator Sharon Smith, for donating their time, knowledge, leadership and resources to make it such an enriching experience.

People probably assumed I took the course because of my fire background, which certainly played a large role, but surprisingly deciding to take this course started with a little book I purchased back in November, 2008.  While enjoying coffee at a local Starbucks with my son, Kyle, I decided to buy myself (and several friends) a book named “5”.  The book simply asks, “Where will you be five years from today?” The purpose of the book is to fire-up your creative juices and inspire you to map out your dreams.  As an avid learner and curious person, this book sparked a fire in me to chart a course for my life over the next five years.  I had begun to look for new opportunities that would help me “grow” through life, rather than just “go” through life.  Perhaps it’s a combination of the book and turning 40, but more than anything, participating in the Citizens Fire Academy was about learning something new, having an adventure and breaking from my usual routine. As a CFA graduate, I am proud to add this experience to my life’s “Bucket List”.

I made some terrific new relationships that will hopefully result in a lifetime of friendships.  (Here’s a photo of me, along with my fellow CFA classmates, during the All-day Live Burn at Washington Township Fire Tower.)

So I ask you – where will you be in 5 years…260 weeks…1,825 days…2,333,000 minutes? What will you do with that time? Let friends inspire you. Step outside your comfort zone and dream of climbing new mountains, both physically and professionally.  Sign up for something new.

I hope my journey eventually takes me to as far as Mount Everest or Kilimanjaro, but in the meantime; perhaps you’ll join me as a CFA alumni, if so, please call Washington Township Fire Department at #614.652.3920 to learn more about the program coming again in August, 2010.

Every day matters. What’s on your Bucket List? Where will you be in 5 years…the skies the limit!

The skies the limit! Dream Big.

I would love to hear back from you about what’s on your bucket list, so if you have a personal experience that you would like to share or suggest, please email me directly at Jill@live-safe.org.

Jill is the Founder of The Live Safe Foundation, a non-profit organization 501c3, and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses.  Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable.  Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.