Bulletproof Spirit: The First Responder’s Essential Resource for Protecting and Healing Mind and Heart.
One of the biggest challenges for first responders is succumbing to the darker aspects of their work. The things they see, the surprising acts people are capable of, the tasks they are assigned to do are not for the faint of heart.
This book by Captain Dan Willis is the perfect antidote to the emotionally taxing nature of this industry.
The author, a multi-honored retired police captain and instructor for the International Academy of Public Safety, has produced a resource that is eye-opening, heart-wrenching, and poignant. While he can never isolate them from violence, Captain Willis has dedicated himself and this book to preventing their pain and suffering. His goal is to help these brave warriors maintain their mental and physical health throughout their careers.
The statistics cited in this book are staggering.
Day in and day out, the work takes a toll on even those who claim to possess enormous mental strength. Other than a ride-along, I don’t know how else one could catch a glimpse into the peculiarly horrifying and simultaneously uplifting world of a law enforcement officer (and their first-responder kin). It prompts you to reconsider your relationship with, and respect for, the professionals who put their lives on the line every day to ensure our safety and well-being.
But Captain Willis also celebrates the good, sharing amazing stories of triumph and goodwill. From the first responders to many civilians he has encountered, he recounts numerous honorable tales. These moments remind officers of the sacrifices they make each day.
Bulletproof Spirit was authored as a training and motivational guide for first responders, but it should be required reading for everyone.
Book and Image Courtesy of New World Library
