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October 14, 2024
Today, we feature Sandy Garcia, a United States Air Force Veteran who has seamlessly transitioned from military service to becoming a beacon of support for veterans and the community. Sandy’s journey, marked by her service in the Air Force, her role as a military spouse, and her involvement in multiple veteran non-profits, showcases her unwavering commitment to helping others.
In this interview, we delve into Sandy's multifaceted journey, exploring her military service, the challenges she has faced, and her aspirations. Her story offers valuable insights and inspiration for those looking to navigate their paths with similar resolve and compassion. As we uncover the layers of Sandy's experiences and motivations, her story provides a profound understanding of resilience, healing, and the power of community support.
To understand Sandy’s inspiring journey, we start with her introduction and the roles she fulfills today. Her varying commitments reflect her dedication to both her family and the broader veteran community. Sandy elaborates on her identity and current endeavors:
“I am a United States Air Force Veteran. After my enlistment ended I was honorably discharged and continued my service as a military spouse to my husband who is a retired USAF Master Sergeant, Simon Garcia. After his retirement, he found mountain biking and joined a veteran non-profit right at its inception in 2018 called The Dirt Therapy Project (TDTP). We are now both Texas Chapter Leads & ambassadors for the program and volunteer to take veterans of all skill levels out bike-riding or hiking in the San Antonio area. I also volunteer at another veteran non-profit called Rustic Ranch. We go out to the ranch to lend a hand whether it's moving dirt, clearing land, or working the booth at their fundraiser. I also work as an assistant at an Acupuncture clinic while I finish the Texas Medical Board process to obtain my own Acupuncture license.”
Sandy’s military service laid the foundation for her disciplined and compassionate approach to life. Considering her transition from military service to her active projects, she shares her journey and the new challenges she’s eager to embrace. Her story illustrates the journey from service to personal fulfillment:
“While in the Air Force, I served as a Communications-Computer Systems Project Manager. After I got out, I was on auto-pilot and pursued degrees related to that career field. I earned a Bachelor in Cybersecurity (UMUC), and a Masters in Computer Information Systems from Boston University. These degrees + my military experience helped me get a job as a contractor for the Air Force. While I was a part of great and interesting work, I was waking up to what I truly wanted in life and to the fact that what I was doing was NOT it. So, I quit. I went back to school for something related to a different type of communication network. In 2022, I graduated with my Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
As for competitions, I am looking forward to my next challenge. I have completed a handful of Spartan Races. I have also competed in a few MTB enduro races as part of the all-veteran TDTP Race team and plan to compete in at least 1-2 races before the end of the year. In addition to that, I am looking for something new like a long-distance ruck or even an amateur BJJ competition. Until then, I continue to follow training that incorporates breathwork and overall aims to teach adaptation and management to stress (www.shiftadapt.com ) as a way to face my fears that always accompany me when I get on my bike!”
Life’s greatest challenges often shape our resilience and character. Reflecting on the most difficult obstacle she has faced, Sandy recounts the profound impact it had on her life.
“My biggest obstacle, the hardest thing I had to do was bury one of my younger sisters. In November 2006, just 4 months after my grandmother died of cancer, I got a call that my sister, Adrian, had been in an accident. She was crossing the street with her friends on a Saturday night and a car hit her and kept going. She was 23 years old and left behind 3 children under the age of five. I got the call in the middle of the night and I had to drive to my mom’s work and break the news to her. Then I had to wake up my other younger sister and tell her. I then had to call RedCross so they could notify my brother who was deployed to Iraq and when he called I had to tell him. I had to take out a loan to pay for the funeral. Simon wasn’t my husband then but he co-signed for me. It’s the biggest heartbreak of my life.”
Such profound loss inevitably affects our relationships and self-perception. Sandy shares how it impacted her relationship with herself and others. Her insights reveal the long-term effects of grief and the path to self-healing:
“Losing my sister that way and that early in life made me numb and full of anger. I woke up to a gaping hole every day that I could not ignore. Everything hurt. For many years, I became very self-critical and started to dissect all the ways I could have done better as a sister. I gave up on God. The heaviness of that grief slowed everything down and made me refocus more and more as the years went by on the present moment and how that is all we have. After I started therapy and got interested in more spiritual and natural fundamentals about connection, healing, and the unity and duality of all things I started to rebuild myself. When I started doing better, I realized that was a gift I could give to myself as part of self-forgiveness and also to others around me.”
Often, a particular moment ignites our passion and directs our path. Deliberating on the moment that fueled her current engagements, Sandy describes a significant event that shaped her journey.
“What sparked my current endeavors was when our home life at my husband’s last duty station became stressful and unpredictable. With a sense of feeling lost, the military demands compounded with the use of medications that my husband was prescribed. His mood, stress tolerance, and overall baseline of his well-being were being maxed out and blurred. I was determined to figure out ways to help him feel better because the treatment he was receiving was prescription medications, indefinitely. Seeing his struggle, along with that of my mother, made me realize that effective care was just not as accessible to people as it should be. Finding a way to make it simple yet include a variety of ailments has led me to acupuncture, breath work, and nervous system. Learning how to identify imbalances and how best to regulate, rebalance, and bring harmony to the body and mind is a gift everyone is entitled to. If I can learn it, put it into practice, and explain in layman's terms what’s happening within and around them; helping people understand how they can regain control over their pain, healing, and health, then that is what I want to do.”
Looking ahead, Sandy outlines her aspirations for the coming years, balancing professional goals with personal growth and community involvement. Her plans reflect a dedication to both personal achievement and community support:
“My main goal for the next couple of years is to start my community acupuncture practice and make acupuncture accessible and affordable for veterans and the local community. To support this I want to obtain a few certifications such as addressing addiction, regulating the nervous system, and breathwork. I would also like to compete in a few MTB races each year to help grow the TDTP race team. Also on my list is the Integrative Health Coaching course from the University of Health and Performance; National Acupuncture Detoxification Association certification; and more immediately, learning BJJ!”
Respect often mirrors our values and influences. Reflecting on the individuals who have shaped her values, Sandy shares who she respects the most and why.
“I respect my mom. Since I was 4 years old she was a single mother, had no help from my father, worked multiple jobs, had no support from family yet did whatever it took to give my 3 younger siblings and me the best life possible. She endured the fear of having to leave us alone when I was as young as 5 to work a second job. She swallowed her pride when we had to go to the church pantry for food. She was innovative as she taught us how to survive without heat or electricity sometimes. She personified selflessness and kept her suffering silent. The respect I have for her is why now, in her time of need, I am using all I learn to help her navigate the trauma and pain that she has carried all her life. She always emphasized to us ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way.’ She made me believe in myself whether I wanted to or not. That has made all the difference.”
Sandy's journey is a testament to strength, dedication, and the pursuit of healing and growth. From her service in the Air Force and her role as a military spouse to her involvement in veteran non-profits and her current pursuit of acupuncture, Sandy's story highlights the importance of community support, personal growth, and the power of healing. Her experiences have shaped her approach to life and her commitment to helping others. Sandy's journey underscores the significance of finding one's path and the impact of giving back to the community. Her dedication to making holistic care accessible serves as an inspiration for others to seek out ways they can contribute to the well-being of those around them.
Just as Sandy has navigated the complexities of her various roles, her story encourages us to explore our potential for growth and community involvement. In a world where dedication and compassion are paramount, Sandy Garcia exemplifies the enduring spirit of those who strive not only to succeed but to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. As Sandy continues to develop her acupuncture practice and engage with the veteran community, her journey prompts us to consider how we can integrate holistic approaches into our own lives and communities. How can we better support each other in our pursuit of health and well-being?
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Today we want to share the story of our Founder and Chief Product Officer, Christian Meyers. He’s our Director of Media’s brother, close friend of our CEO and our Director of Communications, and an inspiration to everyone at Terra Arma.
He’s one of those people you can talk to for hours and you always learn something new in his presence. He’s also incredibly humble, so we’re honored to share his story to help you understand more about Terra Arma and our mission.
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