In the high-stakes world of emergency services, first responders become masters of prioritization. Many shifts bring life-or-death decisions that must be made in seconds. But while you may excel at triaging emergencies in the field, first responders often struggle to apply the same wisdom to their personal lives.
The 30-Second Speech That Changes Lives
Former Coca-Cola CEO Bryan Dyson captured this challenge perfectly in his famous commencement address at Georgia Tech. In just 30 seconds, he delivered what might be the most powerful metaphor for life balance ever conceived:
“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls. They are Family, Health, Friends, Spirit, and Work. You keep all of them in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same.”
For first responders, whose identity is often deeply intertwined with their profession, this distinction between rubber and glass balls holds particular significance.
Understanding the Rubber Ball
The rubber ball in our lives—our work—has qualities that make it uniquely resilient:
- Elasticity
The job continues whether you’re there or not. Shifts get covered, positions get filled, and the profession marches forward. - Replacement
As dedicated as you are, your department has contingency plans for your absence. They have to—public safety demands it. - Bounce-back ability
Even after major career setbacks, the opportunity to serve remains. Different roles, departments, or even related fields remain available.
This isn’t to diminish the importance of your work. First responders provide essential services that save lives and protect communities. Your commitment matters tremendously. But the organization is designed to continue functioning regardless of any individual.
The Irreplaceable Glass Balls
In stark contrast, the glass balls in your juggling act are irreplaceable and can’t be restored to their original condition once damaged:
Family
Your relationship with your spouse, children, parents, and siblings requires consistent nurturing. Each missed birthday, anniversary, or school event leaves a mark. Children grow up quickly—those bedtime stories and soccer games can’t be rescheduled for your retirement years.
For first responders, the challenge is particularly acute. Shift work means missing holidays and special occasions. The emotional toll of the job can make it difficult to be fully present even when physically at home. Your family understands your commitment to service, but that understanding has limits.
Health
Both physical and mental wellbeing fall into this category. First responders face unique health challenges:
- Physical demands that can lead to chronic injuries
- Exposure to traumatic events that impact mental health
- Disrupted sleep patterns from shift work
- High stress levels that affect everything from heart health to immune function
Unlike a career, health doesn’t simply “bounce back” after years of neglect. The accumulated impact of poor sleep, stress, and physical strain creates deficits that can become permanent.
Friends
The connections that provide support, joy, and perspective outside of work and family are crucial for wellbeing. Yet these relationships are often the first casualty of a busy first responder’s schedule.
True friendships require maintenance. While good friends understand the demands of your profession, relationships atrophy when consistently neglected. The isolation that can result from losing these connections makes first responders more vulnerable to depression and burnout.
Spirit
Whether through formal religious practice, personal spirituality, or a philosophical framework, your spiritual life encompasses your values, meaning, and purpose. It’s the foundation that helps you make sense of the suffering you witness and the sacrifices you make.
For many first responders, a strong sense of purpose initially draws them to the profession. Paradoxically, the demands of the job can erode the very spiritual resources needed to sustain that purpose over a long career.
The Invisible Juggling Act
The metaphorical stick figure at the center of this balancing act represents every first responder trying to keep all these elements in harmony while simultaneously juggling:
- Time (the clock) – The finite resource that forces tough choices between competing priorities
- Technology and work demands (the laptop) – The constant connectivity that blurs boundaries between work and personal life
- Financial responsibilities (the dollar sign) – The practical concerns that can keep you tethered to a job even when balance is suffering
- Problem-solving demands (the light bulb) – The mental energy required to navigate life’s challenges, both on and off duty
- Worldly obligations (the globe) – The broader responsibilities to community and society that compassionate people naturally assume
The Professional Paradox
Here lies the great irony for many in emergency services: The very qualities that make you excellent at your job—selflessness, dedication, willingness to sacrifice personal needs—can undermine your ability to protect what’s truly irreplaceable.
Departments celebrate the responder who never says no, who picks up every extra shift, who puts the job above all else. This culture, while ensuring community safety, can implicitly encourage the neglect of life’s glass balls.
The uncomfortable truth? The job would replace you within weeks if necessary, while the glass balls you might be neglecting are irreplaceable. Your children only grow up once. Your health, once compromised, may never fully recover. Friendships, once broken, may never be repaired.
Finding a Sustainable Balance
This recognition doesn’t mean reducing your commitment to your profession—it means being strategic about which elements of your life deserve the most protection from falling.
Consider these practical approaches:
1. Audit Your Calendar
Look at how you’ve spent your time over the past month. Does your calendar reflect your stated priorities? If family is your most important glass ball, does your time allocation reflect that?
2. Set Clear Boundaries
Identify non-negotiable times for glass ball maintenance. This might be dinner with family three times a week, a standing workout appointment, or regular coffee with a close friend.
3. Practice Intentional Transitions
Develop rituals that help you transition between work and home life. The compartmentalization skills that serve you well on traumatic calls can actually hinder your ability to reconnect with loved ones if not consciously managed.
4. Embrace Selective Mediocrity
Accept that you cannot excel in every domain simultaneously. During certain life seasons, some areas will receive more focus than others. The key is ensuring that no glass ball is neglected long enough to shatter.
5. Build Resilience Through Maintenance
Regular, small investments in each glass ball create resilience for times when work demands must temporarily take precedence. These investments are like the protective cases that prevent glass from shattering during inevitable bumps.
A Call to Reflection
For those who have committed their lives to responding to others’ emergencies, it’s time to consider what emergencies might be developing in your own life.
Ask yourself: Which glass ball in your life is currently most at risk of being dropped? What one small action could you take today to secure it?
Remember, the most important emergency to prevent might be the quiet crisis developing in your own juggling act. No one else can protect your glass balls. That responsibility rests solely in your hands.
This article is dedicated to the first responders who give so much of themselves to protect others. Your service matters immensely—and so does your wellbeing.