The youngest years of life leave an imprint on who we are and what we will become.

I grew up as a military kid who lived in different states and countries. “Pride in country” has been instilled in me since birth. After high school, I knew I wanted to give back to the country that had raised me in a unique environment filled with diverse friendships and interesting experiences. To have that stripped away from me by the tender age of 21 through no fault of my own was devastating.

In my first article, A Mother’s Knot, I felt it was important to share the military experiences (including being the victim of sexual assault) that led to a diagnosis through the Veterans Benefits Administration. It was a long uphill battle to receive a service-connected disability that once received, placed me in a position to be negatively judged and stereotyped by society. I believe that no veteran should have to walk through that process alone.

One of the largest hurdles I had to overcome post-service was finding a new sense of purpose. No matter who you are, what branch you served in, or what your job was while serving, to lose that sense of purpose is something many veterans can relate to.

At the heart of what I do as a leader in the veteran-serving space is to find ways to help military-connected individuals re-discover their sense of purpose. We don’t stop serving just because we no longer wear a uniform to work. Dedication to duty is an integral part of who we are as citizens. How we fulfill that duty post-service is crucial to who we will become as we age.

It is critical for veteran-serving organizations to develop programming that acknowledges that struggle. We need to engage military-connected individuals in as many ways as possible through as many avenues as possible. As leaders and agents of change, we don’t have to figure out how to do that alone. I have met so many awesome people across the country working to re-envision our roles in how to manage the gap between the military and civilian lifestyles. Such work involves collaboration, innovation and a willingness to engage in change efforts.

Veteran-serving organizations should consider the importance of purpose while acknowledging the negative outcomes that may result from a purposeless life. Connection is at the heart of healing, and purpose is how we connect to our hearts. I’m ready to start that conversation when you are.