Awakening to a Higher Calling After 20 Years as a Military Attorney – An Interview with Lisa LaPerle

How does a military attorney who spent two decades in service to her country become a guide for inner peace, healing, and presence?

For Lisa LaPerle, twenty years of high-stakes leadership, legal strategy, and relentless discipline culminated in a quiet but profound awakening—true fulfillment doesn’t come from accolades—it comes from alignment. Guided by ancient philosophy, the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, and her own hard-earned life experience, Lisa founded Me Here Now—a wellness practice devoted to helping high achievers, veterans, and professionals reconnect with meaning, self-compassion, and what she calls the “freedom within.”

In this conversation, you’ll hear how Lisa turned chronic stress into embodied wisdom, why she believes self-examination is the gateway to purpose, and how yoga, meditation, and coaching can serve even the busiest lives—from courtrooms to combat zones. Continue reading or listen in by subscribing for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or YouTube.

You recently retired from a 20-year military career, which is incredible. It doesn’t even seem possible—you look way too young! I’d love to hear the story. What initially motivated you to sign up?

Lisa LaPerle: I appreciate that—and I’ll give yoga the credit for how I look! That’s my little plug for it. I joined the military while I was in law school. My first year was when 9/11 happened, and that moment gave me a deep sense of calling to service.

I’ve always seen myself as a servant leader. I think I would’ve found some form of service regardless, but 9/11 solidified that path for me. And honestly, watching A Few Good Men as a kid also had a surprisingly big influence. Those two factors came together and sparked a desire to contribute to something bigger than myself.

Did you grow up in a military family? Was that part of your upbringing at all?

Lisa LaPerle: Not really. My father served in the Army during the Vietnam era.

Interesting. Help me understand—were you still in law school when you joined? Did you finish first and then enter the military? And how did that path of service unfold once you were in?

Lisa LaPerle: Yes, I finished law school first. I joined as a direct commission, which is a path each military branch offers for professionals, such as lawyers, to enter at a slightly higher rank.

Once I graduated, took the bar, and officially became a lawyer, I joined the military as a direct commission officer. That allowed me to start with an elevated rank, and from there, I served as a Judge Advocate, working in that legal capacity throughout my military career.

Did you also have to go through boot camp? I mean, you’re an attorney, but do they still drag you through the mud and make you shoot guns—or is it a different process?

Lisa LaPerle: You do go through that kind of training, yes. It’s shorter than the standard boot camp for enlisted members or even the Officer Candidate School, but it’s still a real initiation. You train alongside doctors, pilots, engineers—basically professions the military has a specific need for and brings in through direct commissions.

I did the pushups! I remember having my hands in the gravel and snow, learning the hard way. And honestly, I appreciated that experience. It helped reality set in really quickly.

And it gives you a sense of what everyone else in the military is going through. I must admit, I didn’t realize the military even needed attorneys until we began discussing this topic. You mentioned your role was called a Judge Advocate—what does that mean? What exactly did you do for 20 years?

Lisa LaPerle: As a Judge Advocate, I wore a lot of hats. It’s almost like being a general practitioner in law, where I’d provide legal advice for whatever command I was assigned to. For example, when I was stationed in Boston, I covered a territory that included New York. For any legal matters that arose in that area, I handled them.

Early in my career, I became a specialist in criminal law. So I focused a lot on prosecuting cases and developed that specialty over time. As the years passed, more and more of our work involved digital evidence, so I also learned about advanced technology and its applications in the cases I was prosecuting.

And when you say prosecuting, that means you were representing the military in cases against individuals who were also in the military, correct?

Lisa LaPerle: Yes, exactly. That’s military justice—when we’re prosecuting cases within the military system. But I also had other roles. For instance, when I was in Hawaii, I served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. In that capacity, I worked with federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s office on certain cases. Not all of those were military-specific, but they were situations where the military and federal systems overlapped.

While serving as a Judge Advocate, what did you enjoy? I mean, 20 years is a long time for any career, but especially in the military. What did you appreciate about that season of your life?

Lisa LaPerle: I enjoyed the pursuit of justice and being part of something bigger than myself—both of those things were deeply fulfilling. I had the opportunity to return to school and specialize in national security, and I conducted extensive trial work. The military gave me life experiences I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

When I think back to my younger years, especially during college, I felt more awake then than at certain points during my military career. If I had followed my passion at that time, I probably would’ve gone on to get a PhD and teach. I was deeply immersed in studies, such as those of Thich Nhat Hanh—topics I’ve returned to now with even greater depth.

But at the time, I told my 20-year-old self: “You don’t have enough life experience yet. You’re not ready to teach until you’ve been out there, worked hard, faced challenges, and come back with wisdom.” So even though my military career became focused on accomplishment—promotion, success, awards—it gave me exactly what I needed: the discipline, resilience, and life experience I’d hoped for when I first joined. And those are things that serve you at any stage of life.

At what point did you start to awaken to mindfulness, consciousness, and spirituality? Was there a moment, or was it more of a gradual shift during your career?

Lisa LaPerle: It really hit during my last tour, which was also the hardest. I held a national security role, which challenged me to my core. I don’t regret it at all, because those intense and difficult periods can bring about the most growth.

That’s a big part of my message now—if you can harness suffering and transmute it into growth, you can make massive leaps in transformation. Honestly, I grew more in 2022 and 2023 than I had in the 17 years before that.

And what was the challenge for you on that tour?

Lisa LaPerle: I was leading a large team, and the environment was really tough. A lot of the people I inherited were unhappy, and rightfully so. They were doing incredibly important work to protect the nation, but they lacked the necessary resources and support. They were burned out, overwhelmed, and frustrated.

I tried so many different leadership styles to support them, but the stress was constant. I found myself stuck in fight-or-flight mode, and that forced me to take a step back and ask some hard questions about life. I had just been promoted to O-6—in the Army, that’s the rank of colonel. It’s a major milestone, something many people strive for, and I had reached it.

But when I got there, I had this moment of realization: “This doesn’t feel the way I thought it would.” I was doing meaningful work, but it wasn’t feeding my soul. Still, I have no regrets—I know those people needed me, and I gave everything I could.

That experience pushed me to find ways to ground myself, to create something I could look forward to, which helped me stay hopeful. But it also taught me the importance of not living in the future. That’s a core part of my business now: helping people learn to be present. And that’s not always easy. Sometimes you have to give yourself space to be in this really hard point and live it, and I know yoga and meditation have become a huge part of your life.

Did you remember those college experiences on your own, or did someone reintroduce them to you a few years ago? How did that all come full circle?

Lisa LaPerle: Yes. This was something I was deeply connected to in college and my 20s—especially early in my career, when I had a little more time and wasn’t yet juggling a career, kids, and all the responsibilities that pile up as life moves forward.

So coming back to those practices felt like a homecoming. It was powerful—like returning to myself. But it’s not always easy. Sometimes, at the end of a long, exhausting day, you have to push yourself to reconnect with that inner sense of calm. That’s where discipline becomes essential—not just in military life, but also in growth and healing.

We all have those moments where we make excuses: “It’s the holidays, I’ll eat whatever,” or “I’m tired, I’ll skip the practice.” And that’s okay in moderation. However, if it becomes a pattern, you start to lose your sense of grounding. The key is pushing through those short-term comforts—the foods, the distractions, the momentary highs—and choosing what will actually make you feel good on a deeper level. Not the fleeting kind of happiness, but the kind that brings lasting peace.

At what point did those practices become central to your life, like a daily rhythm? 

Lisa LaPerle: Yoga and meditation had been part of my life for a while, but during that time, they truly saved me. It became more than just practice—it became a lifeline.

I wasn’t just returning to the present moment—I was in the hardest season of my life and still experiencing moments of higher consciousness, where everything seemed to come together and make sense in a completely new way.

It was mind-blowing to be going through such difficulty and, at the same time, tapping into such clarity. That’s when I knew: this is it. Once I completed my military service, I planned to dive into training so I could offer it to others.

Did you have the 20-year mark in your mind as the light at the end of the tunnel?

Lisa LaPerle: Yes. After 20 years, I became eligible for lifetime retirement benefits, which became my finish line. I didn’t go much beyond it—I retired at about 20 years and two months.

And now it sounds like you’ve transitioned into a new season of service—still serving, but in a different way. You’ve started your business called Me Here Now. It’s not Be Here Now—it’s Me Here Now. Where did that name come from, and how are you serving people now?

Lisa LaPerle: Me Here Now is a tribute to Be Here Now, which comes from Thich Nhat Hanh—someone I’ve admired since I was 20. I saw him speak at the University of Vermont more than 25 years ago. He filled a huge gymnasium, and yet when he said it, the silence was so profound that you could hear a pin drop. It was profoundly moving.

His teaching was always about coming back to the present moment. That phrase—be here now—has been part of my personal meditation practice for decades. It’s how I anchor myself.

When we’re stuck in the past, we can feel depression, reliving mistakes, longing for people or moments that are gone. When we’re lost in the future, we feel anxiety, anticipating things that haven’t even happened. But the present? That’s where life actually happens. That’s where joy, meaning, and presence are.

So I spent a lot of time choosing a name. Me Here Now came slowly, but it felt right. It honors Thich Nhat Hanh’s teaching, but also personalizes it. “Me” is a reminder: I’m back. I’m in this moment. I’m on my path, ready to grow.

And I want everyone who works with me to feel that too—that this is their path, their present moment, their opportunity to show up for themselves and find freedom on their terms.

Now that you’re fully invested in this new season of life, it’s such a joy to talk to you at this point of transition, from a deep investment in serving our nation to now entirely investing in people. How are you working with clients, both in person and online?

Lisa LaPerle: I’m serving clients through a variety of mediums. I teach yoga and meditation, and I’ve recently become a Reiki Master, so I offer Reiki sessions for energy healing. But where I’m focusing my energy right now is coaching—helping people walk the path back to their inner freedom, their quiet revolution.

I work with clients who feel stuck in busy lives and help them find ways to reconnect with their purpose and live more meaningfully, without giving up their goals or success. It’s not about abandoning ambition, but rather bringing meaning into their existing responsibilities.

Alongside one-on-one coaching, I also speak at wellness conferences and conduct workshops for companies and organizations. There’s a lot I’m exploring in this space, and I feel energized by the opportunity to serve in this way.

What are some things you’re bringing into this new season from your previous one? You’ve mentioned “discipline” multiple times—something we all associate with the military. You’ve also got a legal background and a strong sense of justice. Do those qualities inform your work now, and how do they blend together?

Lisa LaPerle: Absolutely. We all go through hardship—suffering is a universal part of life. Thich Nhat Hanh taught us that the first step is accepting that suffering exists. In my career, I saw suffering in many forms, and while the context may differ for each person, the experience is always valid. Everyone has their own relationship to it.

Many people resist suffering, or try to escape it, or tightly cling to the parts of life they cherish. But emotions are meant to flow—they come and go. A significant part of my work now involves helping people overcome their resistance to suffering and learn to use it. You can harness it for growth.

That applies to anyone, no matter what field they’re in. And especially in high-stress environments, where chronic stress and suffering are often linked. I’ve recently completed advanced training specifically focused on chronic stress, and I’ve started serving communities such as the Balance Bar, as well as other high-pressure groups, including the military, law enforcement, and medical professionals. These are people who are constantly pushed to the edge, just as I once was.

The question becomes: how do you keep growing even when you feel like you have nothing left to give? That’s one of the hardest things to do. But if you don’t learn how to be present and make life meaningful now, you end up chasing a future ideal—“I’ll be happy when I retire,” or “when I get the boat,” or “the vacation home.”

That kind of thinking causes you to miss life as it’s happening. My work is about coming back to the present. What can we do today to bring meaning into your life, even in the midst of pressure, exhaustion, or chaos?

My military service pushed me to the brink. But it gave me the perspective to know how to find meaning even there. That’s what I offer now—to people in all kinds of roles. I’ve lived in different worlds—military, legal, corporate—and I know what real stress feels like. And I also know how powerful it is when you finally find your way back to yourself. That changes everything.

You mentioned The Balance Bar, which focuses on working with attorneys and helping them manage stress. What’s your vision for that part of your business?

Lisa LaPerle: The Balance Bar is designed to support attorneys who are high achievers, often stuck in that cycle of chasing success while silently battling chronic stress and burnout. My goal is to offer wellness workshops that help them come back to presence, so they can still pursue a meaningful career without sacrificing their well-being.

I want to create space for self-care within the legal profession, and I also want law firms and corporations to start valuing wellness as an essential part of their workplace culture. Part of my approach is encouraging organizations to invest in their people’s mental and emotional health, not just their productivity.

A key step for me is partnering with bar associations, which vary by state. There’s already growing recognition of the need for wellness in the legal field, and I’ve started conversations around offering Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits as an incentive. That way, attorneys can meet their requirements while also learning tools to manage stress and reconnect with themselves. I see these workshops being offered to law firms, in-house legal teams, and across the legal community.

That’s genius—got to get those CEUs! What about supporting people in or coming out of the military? I’ve interviewed several guests who focus on that transition, which can be particularly challenging. What do you hope to offer in that space?

Lisa LaPerle: The military is such a unique environment. After 20 years, I can say you don’t just work in the military—you live it. Your friendships, your community—it all revolves around the military. But what makes it even more complex is that it’s always shifting. People are constantly rotating in and out, so there’s this revolving door effect.

It has its upsides—you meet amazing people who are committed to service—but it also becomes such a strong part of your identity that stepping away from it can be incredibly disorienting. For many retirees, it’s a real struggle. The uniform comes off, and suddenly the question becomes: Who am I without this?

Has that been a challenge for you personally?

Lisa LaPerle: I’ve been fortunate because I went through a kind of personal awakening before I left. Yoga and meditation became a big part of my identity, so I already had something to step into.

And, honestly, there were little things I looked forward to—like finally not having to wear my hair in a bun every day, or being able to paint my nails! Those small freedoms meant a lot.

But I’ve seen firsthand how tough the transition can be. I’ve worked with many people with PTSD, and while it’s different from chronic stress, there’s an overlap, especially around triggers and living in a state of fight or flight. Yoga can be incredibly therapeutic in those situations.

I’m already working on some offerings—specifically, yoga classes tailored for veterans transitioning out of the military. But I want to expand that. There’s so much more we can do to support people in that space.

If you were to boil your core message down—the heart of what you’re trying to share with clients through yoga, meditation, Reiki, or coaching—what would that message be?

Lisa LaPerle: I’ve developed what I think of as a personal growth formula—something I follow myself and now share with clients through my coaching work. At the center of it all is the concept of freedom within—this idea that, no matter what’s happening around you, you can find peace and purpose inside yourself.

It starts with a commitment to self-growth. That’s number one. Like Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” If you’re willing to look inward and ask, How can I grow?—you open the door to creating a meaningful life.

I also draw from Aristotle’s idea of eudaimonia, or flourishing happiness. Coming back to the present moment is essential, but it’s not the only piece. You also have to engage with your passions. Keep learning, keep creating, and keep doing what lights you up. If you’re a painter, paint. If you’re a student at heart, keep studying. The point is to be on a lifelong path of growth.

That’s what I help people return to: a commitment to self, passion, and purpose.

I call it freedom within because you can do it anywhere, under any circumstances. You could be sitting in a jail cell—just like the Stoics who practiced this in battle during the Roman Empire—and still find your way inward.

It means learning to let go of the negative thought patterns and emotional cycles we get stuck in. That takes compassion. It’s very aligned with Buddhist philosophy—creating space for yourself, honoring your emotions, but also letting them drift by like clouds.

When you stop resisting or clinging, you make space for what’s next. And when suffering inevitably shows up—and it always will—you meet it with presence and a willingness to learn from it.

Because growth doesn’t mean escaping pain, it means finding the lesson in it. One of the biggest turning points in personal growth is learning to be grateful, not just for the good, but for the hard times, too. That’s when you’ve found your way back to yourself.

Where can people connect with you, follow your work, or schedule sessions online or in person?

Lisa LaPerle: You can find me on Instagram and TikTok at @LisasHereNow. The business is called Me Here Now, and my website is journeytomeherenow.com.

I’d love to work with more people across the country, so if any part of this resonated with you, feel free to reach out. I’d be honored to connect.

I want to emphasize the opportunity for people to book you, not just for in-person workshops, trainings, and corporate events, but also for online sessions and virtual events. You can work with people anywhere in the world.

Your 20 years of military service—especially in such a demanding role as an attorney—really sets you apart. I think there’s so much value you can bring to law firms, corporate teams, and anyone looking to bring more mindfulness and meaning into their work. So I encourage people to reach out and connect with you. Lisa, thank you so much for sharing your story, your wisdom, and your heart today. Really appreciate it.

Lisa LaPerle: Thank you. I truly appreciate this time with you—it means the world to me.