The First Time I Thought of Myself as an Adult

During group therapy this week something someone shared brought up a memory I had not thought about in decades. I revisited this memory that shaped how I see myself even now. It was the first time I truly felt like an adult.

I was stationed at my first duty station in Tennessee and volunteered at an elementary school. Most of the children were Black, and I was a young white lower-enlisted service member who still felt like a kid inside. I was used to people telling me what to do, not looking up to me.

Walking into that classroom, I was nervous. I didn’t know how they’d respond or if I’d even belong there. But the moment I arrived, the children welcomed me and called me “Sir.”

At first, I laughed and told them that’s what I called officers, not what people called me. But they told me they called me that because I had volunteered to serve my country—and because I had chosen to be there with them helping them learn.

That hit me hard. It was the first time I understood respect not as something tied to rank or position, but to purpose. It was a moment that changed how I viewed myself and the life I was building.

Reflection:

You don’t grow in comfort—you grow in chaos.

That truth has followed me through every stage of my military career and far beyond it. The challenges, the uncertainty, the moments where I doubted who I was—all of it forced me to evolve.

Group therapy reminded me that growth doesn’t come from having control. It comes from facing the storms that strip away who you thought you were, revealing who you’re becoming.

We can’t go back. But we can honor where we’ve been, and keep growing from the chaos that brought us here.  This is why I will continue to serve and honor my brothers in arms and first responders with my art therapy and tattooing.

Artist Hour: “Hidden Strength”

Today’s artwork features a tiger’s head obscured by palm leaves, with a single tropical flower in the corner for balance. The tiger represents courage and purpose—often concealed, waiting for the right moment to emerge. The flower reminds us that even in the wildest environments, growth and beauty still find a way through.

Happy Veterans Day to all those who have served honorably and to those that continue to serve.  Happy birthday to all my Marine brothers, y’all make 250 look good!

 

These are reflections from the lead artist at Honor and Ink™ as he continues to process and grow.  We hope you can relate to this, and if you would like to explore tattoos or art as a form of therapy, please contact us on our website Honor and Ink.