Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerrod Sutcliffe.
Hi Jerrod, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It all started after doing a 6 year term in the Navy, during that time I was diagnosed with PTSD and a TBI as well as other issues that made me unable to continue my time in the Navy. This created a perfect storm of mental and emotional degradation, leaving me hopeless and abusing alcohol to ease the issues this caused. Years of this passed by before I incorporated other things to try and get through my day. This search for solace brought me to the show Forged in Fire which I watched religiously, wanting to try to do what I saw on television. A close friend of mine who was also a fan invited me over to work some steel after he bought the equipment. We put hammer to steel for many afternoons and weekends until I decided to get my own equipment. At first the shear physicality of the work kept the drinking at bay, but weeks then months passed and I started to feel better, not healed but not hopeless anymore. Fast forward a bit until I met with a Non-profit organization called Black Horse Forge where I learned from that this healing phenomenon wasn’t a fluke, that research had been done showing many issues with PTSD have been healed or mitigated through tactile hobbies. These hobbies could be anything that used the mind and body to create. Some examples that were found ti work were painting, playing instruments, woodworking, and of course in my case metalwork. I then set out to help my friends and fellow veterans by inviting them over to craft away the demons in their souls. It took some time and research to get my own Non-profit started, but once I did it felt like I had found my purpose along with having healthy outlet to work through my own problems.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been easy going the biggest obstacles are and continue to be time, money, and manpower.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I don’t really specialize as far as the type of work I do, however I would say that supporting those struggling with the issues I mentioned earlier would be as close to that as I can think. The areas of work I feel talented in are leatherwork, blacksmithing, bladesmithing, and teaching those things. The work I’m most proud of is probably helping those who struggle like I did.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I can’t define it because its a journey not an end point
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Bearironforge.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearironforge?igsh=MWt0azV0c2JxeGNjMw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EazHsPBvv/
