BREWED THOUGHTS
 

When I transitioned back to civilian life, I was filled with hope and excitement. I saw my early discharge as a fresh start—a chance to move forward from the limitations my injury had placed on me. I wasted no time enrolling in college, eager to forge a new path and picture a future beyond the military. For a little while, my anticipation carried me. I focused on classes, set ambitious goals, and believed I could adapt easily to this new world. But reality set in as the semes

If you’d asked me how I thought leaving the military would feel, I would have painted a picture of anticipation—maybe a little anxiety, but mostly excitement for the wide-open possibilities of civilian life. I talk about it often, especially with fellow veterans, tossing around the phrase “the quiet of civilian life”. The military does its best to prepare us—there are transition classes, out-processing checklists, a few counseling sessions if you’re lucky. But if you leave ab

I’m often asked how I can be so happy — smiling all the time. For me, it’s simple. Through every struggle and every triumph, I have one person in my life who keeps me going. Who’s that, you ask? My LORD and SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST. He has been with me through everything. From removing me from an unhealthy situation as a child and placing me into the right family through DCS (Department of Children Services), to every surgery I had to undergo because of the third-degree chemical