Open Thank You Letter to Kurt Busch

To Kurt Busch,?

I am writing you as an avid NASCAR fan and father.??I want to thank you for your openness and display of vulnerability during your recent announcement regarding your plan to step away from NASCAR as a full-time driver.??I also want to thank your Team, 23XI, as well as NASCAR and your sponsors for their support regarding your decision.??However, I want to first express my most sincere wishes for a full recovery from your injury.??I am grateful for so many reasons that you have put yourself and your health before anything else, especially your career.??Please indulge me as I explain why this is all so important to me, not only as a retired police officer and a sports fan, but most importantly as a dad.

As adults, most of us will identify ourselves with what we do for a living.??For example, when meeting someone for the first time, the most common question is, “What do you do,” rather than stating, “Please tell me about yourself.”??However, for those whose high-profile career involves wearing a uniform, what we do is too often conflated with who we are.??I was a police officer for more than 20 years and when I retired on December 31, 2019 I felt like I was losing my identity.?Being a police officer was more than just “what I did” because it was a passion that was also filled with purpose, but I later learned that it was not who I am.??Who I am is a father, husband, patriot, and a community caretaker.??Being a police officer was how I served my purpose, not my purpose itself.??To be clear, I did not retire with this perspective, it was through my quite tumultuous transition that I learned how to process it all.

Like you, when I left my career, I did not do so voluntarily.??Not to say I could not have stayed, but while my heart was not ready, my body and my mind certainly were.??I loved every minute of being a police officer in the same way that you have loved every minute of being a race car driver.??Also like you, I knew what I wanted to be since I was a little boy and worked so hard to achieve that goal.??Then like you, at the pinnacle of my career, I knew it was time to walk away so that I would have the opportunity to serve the most important people in my life, my family.

While I have never been a race car driver and have never raced a car of any kind (accept this one time on the New Jersey Turnpike, ..um, never mind), I can completely relate to your circumstances of a sudden and unexpected retirement from a career that identifies you.???Your fame and popularity are not something I can personally relate to on a global scale, but police officers are certainly famous within the communities we serve.??Where I can best identify with you is that we are both role models for the kids that watch us, and for me, especially my own.??Through this injury, you could have taken the path of perceived toughness and financial greed, reply with the obligatory “I’m fine” when asked how you are, and gotten back into the car potentially risking everything.??However, you made the choice of true bravery and courage to heal yourself today, so that you have the gift of time with your family tomorrow.??I am so proud of you for that!!

Having an understanding of how the business of racing works, I would be remised if I did not also recognize the support you have of your decision from your race team at 23XI and your sponsors.??This has not been the case in many other sports, even those with “strict concussion protocol”.??I reflect on one particular athlete who was recently returned to play within 7 days of a head injury, resulting in a more severe head injury that may never allow him to have a full recovery.??That individual’s league, team, coach, and endorsements should all be held responsible for his additive condition.??

I also want to thank you for making this decision in public.??To me, this was less about inquiring minds wanting to know, but rather you acting as a role model and setting a good example.??First,?its ok not to be ok, and when we find ourselves in that situation, we need to recognize it and put ourselves first.??You are leading by positive example, that when it’s time to walk away, do so with your head held high.??You also showed the world that this is emotional, and that it is ok to share those emotions with others.??Throughout your career, you have shown the tenacity to succeed as a driver, competitive enthusiasm as a teammate, resilience after adversity, and now humility as a person.??Your career may now be in this unwanted and unexpected transition, but your purpose as a role model has not changed.??Thank you for showing the world what real strength looks like.

Transitioning out of uniform will never be easy, whether it is planned or not.??It doesn’t matter if that uniform is worn by a police officer, a member of the military, or an athlete like yourself.??We all go through an identity crisis as we rediscover who we are, apart from what we do.??So, I again want to remind you, being a racecar driver is?not?who you are, it’s what you did.??Who you are is a beloved family member and a role model to so many people that are watching you, especially my kids.

From my family, we wish you a full recovery, a transition filled with purpose, and a heartfelt thank you.

I will leave you with this thought.??What I have learned through my own transition is that it is best done with the support of others that can best relate to you and your circumstances.??Build a tribe of folks around you that you can share this journey with.??Then share your story with others so that they can learn from you, while you hear your own words aloud and learn from yourself.??Please know that I am here to be part of that support for your transition and would be honored to share in the journey with you.???I offer with the utmost sincerity, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly if I can be helpful in any way.??

With Gratitude and Respect,

David Berez

David Berez is a retired Police Officer and Drug Recognition Expert, having served more than 20 years with the East Windsor Police Department and a total of 30 years in Emergency Services, including EMS and OEM. Following his retirement, Mr. Berez is now the President and Founder of Six4 Consultants, a Public Safety Consulting Firm. Mr. Berez is also a featured columnist, guest speaker and panelist on a variety of Public Safety discussions. In September of 2020, Mr. Berez was trained as a Resiliency Program Officer and Master Master Resiliency Trainer. He is a facilitator for "Resilient Minds on the Front Lines," "The Power of our Story," and is working to grow Resiliency for Law Enforcement Retirees in NJ with the State's Resilience Program. In 2022, Mr. Berez was named to the Law Enforcement Advisory Counsel for Citizens Behind the Badge.

Contact:?[email protected] ?LinkedIn: www.dhirubhai.net/in/david-berez/