Meet Blake Holbrook

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Blake Holbrook a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Blake, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

My purpose found me, in short. As an Iraq war veteran, I struggled immensely with the hidden wounds of war, PTS and TBI. I thought I could drink them into submission, but quite the opposite happened. With every drink, they submitted me. Between 2008 and 2011, I ended up in three VA Psychiatric Wards and a substance abuse rehab. It seemed the only answer for me from the government was a multitude of pills. However, once I chose a path free from that dead end, I realized that so many other veterans were suffering like me. I saw them every time I walked into a VA and every time I heard about another veteran suicide. So, my purpose came from knowing that if I could help myself, I could go back and help the others.
It just so happened that in 2011 while walking my dog, she slipped the leash and when I caught up to her, she was bathing in a waterfall. For the next hour, I sat next to her not thinking about war, about how my life had unraveled….I was simply present and free from the painful memories of war. When she found that waterfall, my purpose found me in getting myself and other veterans into nature.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

As mentioned before, my true healing journey took place in nature beginning with a week-long camping experience in Big Bend State Park. For six days, we traversed the high desert with other veterans, several of whom were experiencing transition issues coming out of the military. The camaraderie alone was enough to heal, but combined with the incredible scenery, it proved to be a spiritual experience. I had the opportunity to go on several more multi-day outings that were also great experiences, but I realized that not every veteran can take that much time off.

VetRecOutdoors was founded on the principle of helping veterans access nature consistently, on a weekly basis. Our kayaks, hikes, fly fishing and fly-tying opportunities happen on a weekly basis so that our participants can join and still take care of their normal responsibilities. Our team is excited about meeting new veterans, learning about them, and most importantly teaching them a new skill set or how to access nature for the tough times that inevitably come in life.

Our intentions are to stay community based and to create a model that others can repeat in their respective communities. The more we help veterans access nature, the more opportunities they will have to heal

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The most impactful skill that I developed in my journey was realizing that I needed help and more importantly it was ok to ask for it. Military training taught me to always accomplish the mission, to never ask for help and to stow away my emotions to accomplish the task. That works great in military life, but does not transition well to the civilian life. Asking for help is ok and, in fact, no matter what you are doing in life, help is needed.
A quality that was emerging as a teenager and was developed in the military was a sense of resiliency. LIfe is going to come at you, it’s going to test you and at times overwhelm you. As a teenager, I lost my mother to cancer at at 20 I was leading men in combat. Both were incredible challenging times, but the ability to only let life knock you down temporarily is something that has helped me become the person I am. Its important to see, that no matter how hard it is, it will get better. Look for the light.
Lastly, something I developed while working with incarcerated veterans was having empathy. Its so easy to be selfish and to get wrapped up in your own self, but having the ability to relate to the hardships that others are having is an invaluable tool. Its a skill we all need to develop especially in the climate we are living in today.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My parents taught me the value of volunteering, particularly with organizations that are involved in helping others. For several summers, I volunteered at Scotish Rite Hospital in Dallas and it taught me so much about gratitude for life. These kids, at such a young age, were experiencing hardships I hope to never know. Working there taught me an important life lesson: attitude. No matter what the patients were experiencing, all of them had a positive attitude and positivity is infectious. I never left a day there not smiling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://VetRecOutdoors.org
• Instagram: VetRecOutdoors
• Facebook: VetRecOutdoors