Write what you know.
That is what we are told. If you are going to write, write what you know. Years ago I started a blog where I wrote down reflections from my time as a paramedic. The more I wrote, the more I remembered about my time with Summit County Ambulance.
First, I remembered the big calls - those that stay with you forever. Then I remembered the laughter and good times with the crews. There is a family dynamic in emergency services, especially when you work 24-hour shifts with people - you really get to know them (probably more than you ever wanted).
I realized, as I started to remember, that my years as a paramedic were instrumental in shaping who I have become. I was a naive in my 20s, thinking I knew about life without having any real experience. As a paramedic, I learned about life through the people I worked with, the patients I encountered, and the families impacted along the way. Every call taught me something about life.
Those ten years were my learning ground.