We talk a lot about burnout. We don’t talk enough about what we still have.
You’re in the middle of something meaningful. But I’ve seen enough people walk away from the job—some by choice, others not—and almost all of them wish they’d appreciated it sooner.
Not the overtime or the policy updates. The people. The purpose. The weird rhythm of it all.
It’s easy to get numb in this line of work. You show up, shift after shift, and eventually the good stuff gets blended into the background. You don’t notice it. Until it’s gone.
Why That Happens
There’s a term for it: hedonic adaptation. It’s the way our brains adjust to whatever becomes normal—even the good stuff. That sense of pride when you first got your badge? The adrenaline of your first real pursuit? Over time, your brain smooths those spikes back down to zero.
We also stop paying attention to what’s always there. That steady partner. That dependable team. That sergeant who’s got your back when it counts. They fade into the noise—until they get transferred, promoted, or walk away.
And then we realize what we had.
The Slow Drift
When we stop noticing what matters, we start checking out.
Not all at once. Just little by little. That extra effort becomes “not my problem.” The laughs get quieter. The job becomes something you do, not something you’re part of.
I’ve seen sharp, capable people fall into this trap. I’ve fallen into it myself.
The worst part? Once you start taking the job for granted, it starts taking from you—without giving much back.
How to Reconnect Before It’s Too Late
You don’t need a grand gesture. Just a shift in perspective.
- Call out the good. If someone has your back, let them know. It doesn’t have to be a speech. Just don’t let silence write the story.
- Shake up the routine. Try something different—a new seat in the squad room, a new route, a different way of thinking about your shift. Novelty breaks the trance.
- Practice Stoic gratitude. Marcus Aurelius had a strategy: imagine losing something you value, then realize you still have it. Perspective isn’t just grounding—it’s fuel.
- Serve more than you take. The fastest way to remember why this job matters is to help someone else through it.
- Draw the line when needed. If your kindness is being taken for granted, set a new baseline. Generosity should be noticed—not expected.
Final Thought
The job will end, eventually. The people will scatter. The locker will be empty.
But right now—you’re still in it. You still get to make a difference. You still get to show up and do something most people couldn’t.
You don’t have to wait until the goodbye to value what you’ve got.
You don’t have to lose it to love it.