The flight to Arkansas started like any other presentation trip — coffee in hand, checklist on a piece of paper, and that quiet mix of excitement and responsibility humming underneath it all. I’ve been on plenty of safety visits, but something about this one felt different. Maybe it was the long stretch of runway ahead, or maybe it was knowing how many people I’d get to see, faces I’ve only known through screens and phone calls. Whatever it was, I decided early on: this trip wasn’t just about safety talks, this was about moving safety from the head to the hearts of many people.
By the time we crossed into Arkansas, I couldn’t help but see this trip as a story of blessings — not the big, dramatic kind, but the quiet, steady kind that built up like layers of sunlight.
The Story Behind the Trip
Our schedule was full — site visits, safety talks, and time spent listening to teams who live safety out loud every day. These weren’t meetings in boardrooms; they were moments on job sites, in break rooms, and over shared lunches. You learn a lot about people when you listen to many of their stories — how they talk about their crew, the pride in their work, the way they care for each other.
Somewhere between those clouds in the sky, I started making mental notes of the blessings tucked into every moment. Later, when I looked at them all together, they formed an A to Z list — not planned, just noticed. Each one reminded me what it really means to move safety from the head to the heart.
The Blessings, A to Z
- A was for Arkansas itself — rolling hills and generous people who opened their doors like we were old friends.
- B for breakfasts shared before the sun was up, where stories turned into laughter that lasted all day.
- C for conversations that went deeper than procedures — the kind where people admit what scares them most and what they’re proudest of.
- D for detours, literal and emotional — because sometimes the best moments happen when the plan changes.
- E for encouragement — a foreman pulling a new hire aside to say, “You’re doing great, keep it up.”
- F for family, the one we come home to and the one we find in the field.
- G for gratitude, the thread running through everything.
- H for helping hands, always there, even when no one asks.
- I for inspiration — like seeing a veteran worker pause mid-shift to check on a less experienced crew member.
- J for joy — not loud, but steady; the kind that comes from knowing your work matters.
- K for kindness, in small things like someone offering their seat or a bottle of water.
- L for lessons learned — from mistakes, from travel, from life.
- M for moments of rest, those rare ones where you take a breath and realize you’re okay.
- N for new perspectives, the kind that come from hearing someone else’s story.
- O for openness — to ideas, feedback, and each other.
- P for patience, especially when the day runs long or the tools don’t cooperate.
- Q for quiet reflection — those in-between times that let lessons sink in.
- R for respect, the foundation of every safe job site.
- S for stories, because that’s how safety really spreads — person to person, moment to moment.
- T for teamwork, the heartbeat of every crew.
- U for understanding — that everyone’s fighting a battle we can’t always see.
- V for visibility, not just in hi-vis vests, but in being seen and valued as a person.
- W for well-being — taking care of ourselves so we can care for others.
- X for extra miles, the ones people go, without being asked.
- Y for yes moments — saying yes to growth, yes to learning, yes to caring.
- And Z for zero shortcuts, the kind of mindset that keeps everyone safe to make it home again.
Each letter wasn’t just a note of gratitude. It was a reminder that safety isn’t built on policies alone — it’s built on people.
The Heart of It
On the last day of the trip, I sat in the quiet corner of a job trailer, looking at the crew wrapping up their shift. There was nothing extraordinary happening — just people cleaning up, laughing, checking in with one another. But I felt something shift.
Safety isn’t just about avoiding harm. It’s about noticing the good — the care, the effort, the everyday choices that keep people whole. It’s about slowing down long enough to see the blessings in the work, the miles, the moments.
We can’t always control what happens out there. But we can control how we show up — for ourselves, for our teams, for the people who count on us to come home safe. And maybe that’s what moving safety from the head to the heart really looks like: seeing each other first, even when the day is long and the checklist is full. 🌿
A Final Reflection
The Arkansas trip reminded me that every act of care — every thank you, every pause, every “be safe out there” — adds up. It creates the kind of culture where people matter more than metrics, and safety becomes something you feel, not just follow.
If you’re ready to build that kind of culture in your team — one rooted in care, consistency, and connection — I’d love to help you start.
👉 Book us to speak and let’s keep moving safety from the head to the heart — one story, one team, one blessing at a time. 💛
