Alex Perez (follow #ProjectSoul365 on Instagram)

Although Alex Perez (age 71) was not diagnosed with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder until many years after his service in the Vietnam War, he had suffered from it since he was a little boy.  At the age of 6, his 27 year old father died in his arms, due to complications from severe alcoholism.  When Alex was 10, his 31 year old mother died in his arms after being critically wounded at the hands of Alex’s step-father. Born and raised in Bernalillo, New Mexico, Alex witnessed 10 deaths of family members, young and old, before his 15th birthday. 

At age 20, he was drafted into the service and sent to Vietnam as a radio operator.  However, due to his small stature, he was soon recruited to be a “Tunnel Rat”. The young soldier would have a rope tied around him and descend into the dark unknown; underground tunnels, arsenals and barracks.  Once there he would seek out the Vietcong with only one mission - destroy the enemy, using hand-to-hand combat.  The day that I photographed Mr. Perez, he mentioned that he had been awoken by a violent nightmare early that same morning.  It was about one particular incident that happened underground, fifty years ago. 

Like the vast majority of soldiers returning from Vietnam, Alex did not receive a hero’s welcome.  He described various incidents to me, including being hit in the face so hard with a rock that it knocked out his front teeth.  What followed were two volatile years lost in drugs and alcohol, simply trying to cope with the horrors that he had both witnessed and participated in.  Then, in 1970, his entire life changed forever.  He had been invited to a party, incorrectly assuming there would be drugs and alcohol.  It turned out to be the meeting of a group of practicing Buddhists, where he was introduced to a form of chanting that he still practices today.  Through Buddhism, Alex found his way out of the darkness and into the light.  He also met his future wife at this meeting, whom he would marry in 1974.  They are still together 44 years later and have 4 children.  

Alex is now retired and classified by the government as a ‘100% disabled’ Veteran.  He lives just a few miles from where he grew up.  I do not think that I have ever met someone that has been a first-hand witness to so much tragedy.  Any single one of these life-altering events would have been more than enough to push some people over the edge from which there would be no return.  Yet, Alex seems tremendously joyful and at times, even at peace.  He shared a very touching story with me about a conversation he had with his grandfather at age 14; one that unwittingly seemed to draw several key parallels to Buddhism. “How happy do I want to be?  I am the answer to that question”. We not only choose who we want to be, but HOW we want to be as well.  

Alex and I met quite by chance about one month ago, at a concert where his youngest daughter was performing.  As he pointed out to me though, there are no coincidences.  We met for a reason.  Frankly, I couldn’t agree more.  Alex has every reason on earth to be angry at the world, but he has chosen a better, brighter path - one which he delights in sharing with other people, regardless of their politics or religion or anything else.  We are truly all in this together and I am extremely honored to be able to share a little of this wonderful human being's journey with all of you…particularly today, Veterans Day.  Thank you for your service to our country, Mr. Perez, both 50 years ago and today.  

Joanne Lefrak (follow #ProjectSoul365 on Instagram)

Three years ago today, Joanne Lefrak was hit by a car while crossing the street.  The impact practically knocked her out of her boots; the same boots she is wearing in this portrait.  It also tore most of the ligaments in her right knee and ruptured her MCL and her ACL in her left knee.  Her right hamstring was also detached, and she suffered a brain bleed and other trauma from the accident.  Multiple resulting surgeries left Joanne with long scars on both of her legs, but they also restored her ability to walk, after seven intense months of initial recovery time and extensive physical therapy.

Today, Joanne continues the work she has done for the past 17 years in her role as Director of Education and Curator of Public Practice at SITE Santa Fe.  She develops and leads many innovative programs with a uniquely creative approach.  Lefrak curates all public programs and performance art for the institution and works with artists to co-create commissions enacted with the community.  Since 2011, Lefrak has volunteered as the Chair of the City of Santa Fe Children and Youth Commission and has worked to improve the lives of children by supporting local non-profit and school programs that work for youth.  As a visual artist, her work has been exhibited throughout the United States, as well as internationally.  Joanne is a prime example of someone making the most of every moment of their precious time on this planet.