We are all aware of parts of the experience of military service, either from our own experience, that of our families or friends, or perhaps just from what we’ve learned from the media coverage. Terminology like “PTSD” and “Moral Injury” are beginning to have greater visibility in American society. This attention is valuable in that it may move us to action, but it does not fully recognize and comprehend the human experience of deployment and homecoming.

This workshop is a time of personal and group reflection. In other words, this is about you and those gathered here. The work of relationship isn’t about gathering lots of bits of information about the person you want to meet; it begins with looking at ourselves and then meeting that person for who they are. When we better understand who we are,  we will be better listeners and better communicators. And that’s what we need to build relationships.