Heart Health and Emotional Healing

written by Frances Brown, OHF Alumni and Wellness Coordinator

February is Heart Awareness Month. Heart health is essential, as this endurance muscle beats miraculously for us every moment of every day. Lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise clearly impact heart health, but a perhaps less obvious factor is the need for loving relationships and connection.

In the SOF community, love is part of our daily lives—love of our great nation, love for our teammates, and love for our families. Although we may not always realize it, our heart health depends on staying connected to love and nurturing it both in our relationships and within ourselves.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched—they must be felt with the heart.”

—Helen Keller

Connection is essential for human survival. Infants can perish if they are not held and given physical love as they develop. Their “failure to thrive” is a powerful reminder that we, as adults, also flourish when we nurture our ability to give and receive love. While trauma and heartbreak may cause us to isolate and self-protect, cultivating internal awareness can gently guide us back to our heart center.

Did you know that being part of a loving relationship can improve nearly every aspect of life—both physically and mentally? Connected relationships can reduce stress, support immune and gut health, help manage pain, reduce depression, lower blood pressure, and increase life expectancy. When we feel loved and supported, our brains release hormones that counter anxiety and stress. Love and connection lower cortisol levels, allowing the nervous system to regulate and the body to relax.

“The heart that gives, gathers.”

—Lao Tzu

One practice that integrates internal awareness with both mental and physical heart care is yoga. Yoga is a multifaceted way to combat stress and can be adapted to suit any goal or ability level. It is not just for the hyper-mobile practitioner, but a 5,000–10,000-year-old practice designed for anyone and everyone. From gentle flow and restorative yoga practiced in reclining poses, to hot yoga that challenges both body and mind, there is truly something for everyone.

The final pose, savasana—often called corpse pose—is frequently the most rewarding and the most challenging. To fully experience it, observe the busy thoughts in your mind while tuning into the deeper, quieter part of your spirit. This is the practice of internal awareness. Allow yourself to release anything that no longer serves your highest good and move toward the most loving and vibrant version of yourself.

As your breath deepens and your muscles soften, you rise from the pose a kinder individual, with a clearer sense of what truly supports you. Each day is different, and so is each yoga practice. Remember, it is not about touching your toes—it’s about what you learn on the way down. It’s about bringing love along the journey, loving yourself and others, and making space for imperfections in ourselves and in those around us.

“Accept the things to which fate binds you and love the people with whom fate brings you together but do so with all your heart.”

—Marcus Aurelius

We often speak about caring for the heart in an emotional and relational sense. At times in the SOF community, the heart also requires urgent medical care, bringing the need for physical healing and emotional support together at once.

In those moments, Operation Healing Forces quickly steps in to support veterans and their families. This letter from an OHF alumni who received a heart transplant and aortic arch reconstruction reflects what that kind of support truly means.

Dear Operation Healing Forces Team,

I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible support you provided to my family during one of the most challenging chapters of our lives.

As we navigated the emotional and physical demands of my heart transplant surgery at Duke University Hospital, your team stepped in with compassion and generosity that made a profound difference. The adaptive equipment you provided will help ease daily burdens, and the financial assistance you extended brought much-needed relief during a time of uncertainty. Your commitment to serving veterans and their families is more than admirable—it’s life-changing. You didn’t just offer resources; you offered hope, dignity, and a reminder that we weren’t alone. That kind of impact is immeasurable.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being there when we needed it most. We will never forget your kindness.

With sincere appreciation,
The Huerta Family