For many Veterans, the journey home does not end with discharge papers. It continues through the quiet battles of recovery, rediscovery, and healing. That journey is vividly captured in the story of Navy Veteran John Ortiz, whose path from homelessness and chronic pain to healing and purpose was paved not with prescriptions alone, but with creativity, community, and the courage to take a first step. His story, as reported by Hansraj Raghunandan for the VA Tennessee Valley Health Care System, is a powerful example of how the arts can be a lifeline for Veterans facing invisible wounds.

Ortiz served six years in the Navy as an Air Crew Survival Equipmentman. Originally from New York and now living in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, he found himself in a spiral of hardship in the late 2000s. Homeless and living on relatives’ couches in Long Island, he was also dealing with debilitating back pain. A visit to the VA for physical relief led him to aquatics therapy, which unexpectedly became the first step in a transformative journey.

It was there that a persistent recreation therapist saw potential in Ortiz and encouraged him to join a group activity. The group—comprised of five older Vietnam Veterans—performed a humorous pool dance to the “Banana Boat (Day-O) Song,” floating a table in the water and dancing around it. What may have seemed like a light-hearted moment turned out to be a pivotal experience. Their performance earned a bronze medal at a local VA competition and introduced Ortiz to the world of creative arts therapy.

The healing power of creative expression is a central theme in Ortiz’s story. As he became more involved in music therapy, his initial reluctance gave way to participation. He started by simply sitting in therapy sessions, headphones on, not even playing music. Over time, he began helping out, running the CD player, and eventually asked if he could join the singing group. That simple question marked the beginning of a new chapter.

Ortiz’s involvement grew into regular participation in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival (NVCAF), a program that showcases the artistic talents of Veterans across the country. Now a five-time participant, he has contributed through singing, performing, and most recently, writing. His poem, “Life is So Easy, But Living So Hard,” reflects the emotional complexity of life after service. The title itself emerged from a debate, Ortiz explained, when someone remarked that life is hard. His response—“No, life is easy. Breathing is easy. Living, that’s the hard part because it takes action”—became the seed for a poem that poured out in rhymes, a style he hadn’t used before.

I found this detail striking: the poem’s origin in a casual conversation underscores how profound insights can emerge from everyday moments, especially when someone is open to reflection and expression. Ortiz’s willingness to explore that insight creatively allowed him to process deeper emotional truths.

Through music and writing, Ortiz began to name and confront the emotions he had long kept buried—depression, anxiety, anger. Therapy helped him understand that his pain wasn’t just physical. As he put it, “I thought it was just my back. But there was more damage.” The creative arts gave him the language and tools to begin healing those unseen injuries.

Ortiz’s journey didn’t stop with personal healing. With support from the VA’s vocational rehabilitation program, he pursued higher education and earned a degree in recreational therapy from St. Joseph’s College. That education, combined with his lived experience and involvement in NVCAF, led to a professional role as a Recreational Therapist at the Kerrville VA in Texas.

His story illustrates a larger truth about Veteran recovery: healing often requires more than medical treatment. It requires connection, expression, and the opportunity to rediscover one’s identity outside of uniform. For Ortiz, the arts were not just therapeutic—they were transformative. “So because of the creative arts, it got me on a journey of finding balance, health, friends, and a job,” he said. “Funny how the world works.”

Now, Ortiz encourages other Veterans to take that first step, however small, toward creative expression. “Just do it,” he advises. “The arts saved my life. If I hadn’t joined that silly dance in the pool, I wouldn’t be here. There’s healing in action, but you have to take that first step.”

His message is clear: while life may come with its own set of challenges, living—truly engaging with the world and with oneself—requires courage and effort. But it is in that effort that healing becomes possible. Ortiz’s story is a testament to the power of Veterans creative arts therapy, the importance of community, and the resilience of the human spirit.

For Veterans dealing with chronic pain, emotional trauma, or the challenges of reintegration, Ortiz’s experience offers hope and a reminder that healing can begin in the most unexpected ways. Whether through music, poetry, or a humorous pool dance, the path forward starts with one brave step.

Read more at va.gov