Hey everyone, I wanted to share something personal from the last few weeks — something real, something that honestly changed my life. About a month ago, I ended up having a medical emergency with my prostate. It was inflamed, painful, and honestly pretty scary. What hit me the hardest was realizing that even as a veteran, I couldn’t get immediate medical help. The VA couldn’t see me. The only place available was the emergency room, and even then, there was no long-term care or follow-up ready for me. So I had to figure it out myself. While I’m still waiting to get an actual appointment with urology, I decided I wasn’t going to sit around getting worse. I switched my diet, cut out inflammation triggers, started healing through herbs, teas, hydration protocols, and real food. But the real game-changer? AI. Specifically ChatGPT. Every single day, as I go out searching for affordable, healthy food options, I’ve been using AI as a 24/7 health partner. I take pictures of food labels, ingredients, supplements, deals — and it breaks them all down for me. It tells me: – what helps my healing – what slows it down – what chemicals to avoid – what foods cause inflammation – what choices support recovery – how much progress I’ve made – how many weeks until full healing – and it keeps me accountable It’s like having a full-time nutritionist, herbalist, and health practitioner in my pocket — one that never gets tired, never judges, and always shows up. If I didn’t have this tool, honestly… I’d be making 50/50 guesses all day long. And with my health? That’s not a gamble I can take. Humans have failed me on the medical side more times than I can count. Appointments aren’t available. Help isn’t accessible. But this AI never leaves me hanging. It’s been a blessing — one I didn’t expect to rely on so heavily but now appreciate every day. For anyone dealing with health issues, inflammation, chronic stuff, or just wanting to make better choices: explore the use of AI for yourself. Train it. Teach it your scenario. Let it help guide you.

As a veteran who has spent 25 years plus healing and also using cannabis in various forms, I know the difference between marijuana cannabis and CBD or hemp. I do not get high on CBD or hemp and if it’s full spectrum and has a trace amount of THC that help create the healing properties that CBD works with the body then that is acceptable because I don’t get high on CBD so these politicians are full of shit. The following is information about the bill and how we can counter it. ======== Bill name / number - The measure is part of the FY 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, incorporated into the government-funding “minibus”/continuing resolution to reopen the government. - According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the provisions are tied to the bills H.R. 4121 (§ 759) (House committee version) and S. 2256 (§ 781) (Senate committee version) in the Agriculture Appropriations context. - The CRS product is titled “Hemp Restrictions in FY2026 Agriculture Appropriations” (CRS Insight IN12565). Key language / how it was written Here are the major drafting features and how they’re phrased: - The bill redefines “hemp” in 7 U.S.C. §1639o (the statutory definition from the 2018 Farm Bill) by requiring that hemp have a “total tetrahydrocannabinols concentration (including tetrahydrocannabinolic acid [THCA]) of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.” - It distinguishes “industrial hemp” (grown for fiber, grain/seed, seed cake, oil, etc., or immature plants or research) from “hemp-derived cannabinoid products” (intermediate or final products derived from hemp and intended for human or animal consumption/inhalation/topical). - It excludes from the legal hemp definition: “Any intermediate hemp-derived cannabinoid products … marketed or sold as a final product or directly to an end consumer for personal or household use.” “Any cannabinoids that are synthesized or manufactured outside the plant or not capable of being naturally produced by the plant.” - - It places product limits: under the new language, finished hemp-derived cannabinoid products cannot have more than 0.3% total THC (including delta-9 THC, THCA, or similar) on a dry weight basis and may not exceed 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container (the “container” being the innermost wrapping, packaging or vessel). - It gives a delayed effective date: the legislation (if enacted) would not take full effect immediately, giving roughly a one-year transition period for the industry. - The language was inserted as an appropriations provision (in a spending bill), not as standalone hemp-regulation legislation, which is notable because it means it was “tucked into” the funding package.

Hey everyone — welcome to the community. If you’re here early, just know this group will grow slowly as I get more time to build it out. I’m also planning to release an e-book in 2026 with the same name, based on work I began back in 2025. My own journey into healing started in my mid-20s, and I’ve carried it with me into my 50s. Life hits us with everything — stress, injuries, aging, and unexpected setbacks. Those experiences inspired me to create this space and to share what I’ve learned. I’m not a doctor, clinician, or certified medical professional. Everything here is rooted in 25+ years of lived experience: lifestyle changes, food choices, holistic and natural approaches, preventative habits, and the trial-and-error of rebuilding myself again and again. This is a space for veterans to learn, share, and support one another. Your wisdom, your experiences, and your journeys matter. Healing and longevity are continuous practices — there’s no single path, no single perspective. Here, we respect all of it: - nutritional and lifestyle habits - holistic and natural options - spiritual growth - physical fitness - motivational and mindset tools - and insights from veterans who are certified professionals Some ideas shared here may seem “out there” to some, and that’s okay. Humanity has thousands of years of healing knowledge — herbs, natural medicines, ancient practices — and modern science has also expanded what’s possible. There’s value in both. Most importantly, this is a space to rebuild that sense of brotherhood and sisterhood many of us miss after leaving the military. Whether you separated years ago or recently retired, it’s easy to feel lost when you don’t have that community. My hope is that this group helps veterans find confidence, direction, and support in improving their everyday health. Our bodies are resilient. Our minds are disciplined. And just like in service, we can use that discipline to rebuild, reboot, and reconfigure ourselves into stronger warriors as we age.