#STOP22aDAY

I am a combat veteran and a survivor of MST. After the military my life fell apart due to PTSD and substance abuse. Every day is a battle to survive, this blog is about my struggles, triumphs, and failures. But mostly this blog is about staying sober, and over coming PTSD and substance abuse through recreational therapy and with the support of an amazing community. 22 Veterans a day choose to take their lives due to PTSD, I hope that sending positive energy into the world will help show that there is hope, and a lot of life to live.

[hellyeahrook-blog]

Had a great time at #Snowbird's #HighlyDecorated event. Went #snowshoeing with a group of veterans then decorated ornaments afterwards. This is my favorite event of the year, I get a chance to see many veteran friends from all walks of life, and to say thank you to the public who helps support #WasatchAdaptiveSports with their generous donations. #RecreationalTherapy saved my life. I got to see Dr.K again! They guy who showed me that being #sober is so much easier if I truly believe that I needed to quit to save my life, and to #live a life I wanted to save. #PTSD #veterans #soberlife #stop22aDay

[hellyeahrook-blog]

Helped decorate for the #Highlydecorated event at Snowbird Utah. This event honors veterans, and donations go towards WAS, and our recreational therapy program for veterans. I hung this ornament and after reading it. Thank you Grandma B, for looking out for your troop. SGT Jensen for your service. The holidays are hard, only by coming together and helping each other can we truly beat mental health and addiction. #Stop22aDay #RecreationalTherapy #Snowbird #WAS #SoberLife #PTSD #Veteran

[hellyeahrook-blog]

Got the new mid layer jacket at work today! Had a great outing with fellow veterans, I'm always on such a natural feels high after helping fellow veterans recreate! Ran into Dr.K, a rec-therapist at the SLC VA who works with veterans like myself that got addicted to self medicating and want to quit drugs and/or alcohol. Haven't seen him since I entered treatment Jan 2014. Can't express to the internets how amazing it felt to tell him I'm still sober and now helping others with their journey. Ran into veterans Ben and Spencer, both people I have recreated with in the past. I'm so incredibly stoked to be where I am at in my journey, and I hope I truly help fellow veterans#Stop22aDay. We're the only ones who have the true power to do so. #Surviving #PTSD Recreational therapy saves veteran lives!! #WAS #SkiUtah #BoardUtah #snowbird

[hellyeahrook-blog]

Spent the morning Alpine training, then spent the afternoon on my board with my coworker/friend (and veteran too!) Ed. Feeling sore today! Working hard to stay alive, AND live life! #skiUtah #boardUtah #getoutofthehouse #soberlife #rectherapy #22tomany #SFVet #PTSD #survivor #Stop22aDay

[hellyeahrook-blog]

I feel like a bobble head but it's nice to be a bobble head skiing and snowboarding instead of a bobble head behind a 240B in Iraq. #Soberlife #rectherapy #Stop22aDay #getoutofthehouse

[hellyeahrook-blog]

So excited for work this morning I had to pull over and take this pic of the view from the bottom of the canyon! #ski #skiUtah #soberLlife #RecTherapy #22tooMany #Stop22aDay #SFVet

[hellyeahrook-blog]

The #Jeep in it's natural environment! Excited for another day of Alpine training! #Stop22aDay #rec-therapy #PTSD #survivor #soberlife

[hellyeahrook-blog]

Having a hard time saying goodbye to #mountainBiking season! #RecTherapy #Stopp22aDay #PTSDrecovery #PTSD #sobriety #soberLife #recreationalTherapy

[hellyeahrook-blog]

Gunther's first trail ride with me. We played on some atv track which was a really rough ride on my mtb. He did really well! Can't wait to try some single track with him! #PTSD #Stop22aDay #RecTherapy #mtb #dog #dogsofinstagram

[hellyeahrook-blog]

Finally got my own mountain bike! Found this steal listed on KSL today, 2014 Specialized Hardrock SE. I am beyond stoked! #mountainbiking #mtb #shred #recTherapy #stop22aDay #PTSD #veteran #hellyeahRook

[hellyeahrook-blog]

So this is the fix I mustered up to get me by until I can order a new hood latch. This got me to Wyoming safely without the wind carrying away my hood. Jeep didn't make these to be easily replaced, and I don't know why. I may follow a YouTube guide and make my own. #zipties #smh #JeepLife #WhyIOwnaJeep #SoberLife

[hellyeahrook-blog]

This just happened. The passenger side hood latch on the Jeep just snapped off... From going over a speed bump!! Today is a #BadJeepDay #TJ #JeepWrangler #Jeep #SMH

[hellyeahrook-blog]

Had a great day at work! Love cycling, and I hope I help others as much as they help me!! #PTSD #recreationaltherapy #Stop22 #Stop22aDay #cycling #soberiety #SoberLife

[hellyeahrook-blog]

The Jeep turned 150,000 miles today! Love this vehicle, it has been my rock. Always reliable for the 10+ years that I've owned it! It saw me through every deployment, every hospitalization. Some times I just have to appreciate the things that I earned that have helped keep me safe and made my life a little easier. #Jeep #JeepWrangler #TJ #SoberLife #Stop22aDay #hellyeahRook

[hellyeahrook-blog]

The biggest killer of US Soldiers? Guilt, and shame. You're not alone. Together we can survive. #Stop22aDay #PTSD #SurvivingPTSD #Survivor #holdingonfordearlife #IStand4the22 #Sober #SoberLife

[hellyeahrook-blog]

I like my new hat. Last day of class. #EnergyNerd #energynerding #soberlife

[hellyeahrook-blog]

Small rainbow with interesting clouds! I wish I had a better camera. Nature is my higher power. And after a rough time, there is always a rainbow 🌈 🌈 big or small - I just have to look for it. #hellyeahRook #Stop22aDay #soberlife #sobriety #holdingonfordearlife