The journey of adopting open transversus abdominis release (TAR) has been one of exploration, learning and refinement. As surgeons increasingly encounter complex ventral and incisional hernias in challenging patient populations, TAR has become an invaluable tool in our armamentarium. This chapter shares the authors’ personal experience of embracing the technique - starting from cautious early cases to making TAR our default approach for difficult repairs. The authors reflect on their learning curve, the role of mentorship and peer communities, and the subtle lessons learned along the way. While TAR is not without its challenges, the improved outcomes in wound morbidity and overall durability have justified the investment of time and effort. The hope is that this narrative helps and supports other embarking on their own path with open TAR.