{"id":25860,"date":"2020-01-14T10:00:04","date_gmt":"2020-01-14T10:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/01\/14\/how-motorcycling-eases-a-veterans-troubled-spirit\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T06:12:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:12:24","slug":"how-motorcycling-eases-a-veterans-troubled-spirit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/education-transition\/2020\/01\/14\/how-motorcycling-eases-a-veterans-troubled-spirit\/","title":{"rendered":"How motorcycling eases a veteran\u2019s troubled spirit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jonathan Haney was blown off his feet when the rocket landed a dozen yards away from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The blast <\/a>injured several other soldiers at a military base in southern Afghanistan<\/a> and gave Haney a traumatic brain injury, which contributed to his on-going post-traumatic stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For years he was closed off about his experiences in Afghanistan, resulting in feelings of loneliness and despair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like so many veterans, Haney mourned the loss of the close bonds forged with fellow soldiers and the life-and-death responsibilities of a military life that doesn\u2019t resonate in the civilian world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cComing back here and going from being in charge of everything \u2014 accountability for your men and millions of dollars of equipment \u2014 to nothing, you feel worthless,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While looking for meaning and a way to heal, Haney discovered the restorative power of two-wheel therapy<\/a> and learned to open up about the physical and emotional traumas he experienced as a soldier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ride that turned Haney\u2019s life around was with the Motorcycle Relief Project, a nonprofit organization that brings together veterans and first responders for group rides where they not only tackle the open road, but the problems they face that come with highly stressful and dangerous occupations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile riding with MRP, I unloaded some stuff,\u201d said Haney while recounting the emotional catharsis that came with sharing his experience with other veterans\/riders. \u201cI\u2019ve never done group therapy before so it was all new to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI put some sh*t out there that I hadn\u2019t even told my doctor. My wife even said: \u2018You came back a better person.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t