Full Circle - Where My Father's Game Became My Healing

Painted by a retired Navy SEAL, Full Circle captures his effort to reconnect with his father over their shared love for the Bruins and hockey.

Artist: M.C., U.S. Navy SEAL (Ret.)

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

Dimensions: 36 x 36 inches

Full Circle is a deeply personal tribute-both to the storied legacy of the Boston Bruins and to the artist's own journey of identity, healing, and reconnection.

Created outside of any formal commission or program, the artist-formerly a Navy SEAL with over a decade of service- returned to painting with this piece after a long hiatus. What began as an opportunity to create something for his father quickly evolved into a turning point in his creative life, ultimately reconnecting him to art and leading him to the Warrior for Life Fund community.

This work speaks to the complexity of military transition-the sudden loss of identity, structure, and purpose-and the rediscovery of those through two powerful mediums: art and hockey. For the artist, hockey became more than a game; it became a lifeline. Art became a language for emotions and experiences that words could never fully express.

At the heart of this painting is also a father-son relationship-one that lacked connection in earlier years but now finds new meaning through a shared love of the Bruins. Full Circle represents a bridge between past and present, between uniform and civilian life, and between who the artist was and who he is becoming.

This 36 x 36-inch painting is more than a tribute to a team. It is a symbol of belonging, resilience, and the power of reconnection-for those who carry the weight of service and for those who walk beside them.

Proceeds from this piece will benefit the Warrior for Life Fund, supporting Naval Special Warfare veterans, active-duty service members, and Gold Star families through community, sport, and healing.

Visit www.warriorforlifefund.org to learn more or make a donation.