I’m a little behind but a huge thank you to both you and Robert for this. As a retired battalion chief from the KCFD I have experienced and witnessed all of this and more from the daily grind of tragedy (not just civilian, 22 LODD deaths during my career) and sleep deprivation, to the lack of care we give to ourselves particularly our mental FITNESS. For 20+ years I worked multiple 24 hour shifts in a row at the busiest stations (15 - 20 runs a shift) in our city and had to go home unrested, with a suitcase full of “stuff” and juggle my wife and 3 kids and activities family life etc…Had I approached my career with this triangle pillar I feel my coping mechanisms would have been much much better for both work and home. I have suffered emotional outbursts, to huge depressive states, and complete numbness to my work and sometimes to my family. Robert is spot on with all of this. And while the fire service has made great strides with mental wellness, we still have a long way to go. I believe we all carry around a suitcase. Some of us have larger ones while others have smaller ones. Our negative experiences, if not dealt with appropriately, go into that suitcase. Some people’s fill faster while others fill slower depending on their size and amount of experiences they are putting into them. No matter, when that suitcase gets full, it explodes and comes out sad, angry, depressed, lack of concern for self, etc… When I retired after 26 years I decided to become emotionally “fit”. I have done just about everything that you can think of to deal with my work related issues - therapy, couples therapy, meditation, 3rd eye chakra meditation, many apps like insight timer (a good one btw), breathing techniques such as WIMHOF breathing (my favorite that I do often). All very helpful in one form or another. I have also gone much deeper by micro dosing ketamine through a provider and was invited to an ibogaine DMT retreat for military and first responders. The retreat was extremely extremely deep and of course mind altering and it has had lasting effects but nothing has made me feel better each and everyday, more aware of my surrounding, more mindful to others and has had the most consistency then what I have experienced by practicing Yoga Nidra - particularly with you Ayla Nova. I have been practicing almost daily for over 6 months now and my mental fitness has never been better and I thank you for that. You have truly been a blessing. When I make time for my mental fitness and deal and talk through my work related PTSD issues, I realize and can also finally deal with childhood trauma that I have suffered whether it’s having my best friend die in my arms when I was 17, or the loss of a friend by suicide. You have to deal with one to get to the other that’s waiting behind that one to get to the other hiding behind that one and so on… It takes time, dedication, serious intent and support.

Travis Williams Kansas City Missouri and Playa Grande Costa Rica “Without love in the dream it will never come true”