Join Steven & Friends TONIGHT for "All is Ours Day!" with Warriors for Life (WFL)

Col (Ret) Mikel Burroughs
12 hours ago
4 min read

Join our Volunteer, Air Force Veteran, Peer Support Specialist/AdultTrainer, and Writer/Author Steven Bates TONIGHT for "Mid-Week Musings!" edition of Warriors for Life (WFL) Online, sponsored and presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV).

We are asking everyone to share who we are and the support that Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) is providing through Warriors for Life (WFL). If you know someone who is a veteran, first responder or a family member/caregiver, please ask them to join us for at least one meeting so they can learn more about what we do and how they can share their wisdom with others who may be able to learn from them.

TONIGHT's Topic: "All is Ours Day!"

"Today, April 8th, has been designated as National All Is Ours Day. Established in 2021 and celebrated on the 8th of April every year, the day was created as a reminder to let us share the beauty and wonder all around us and appreciate everything we have. There are three main ways to appreciate the day, and those are to appreciate all that nature has to offer, appreciate all that we do possess and have, such as our life, health, and family, and not concentrate on what we don't have, and the third is to share what we do have with others."

Happy "National All Is Ours Day!" This is a powerful theme for the Peer Support group tonight. When dealing with invisible wounds or the high-stress environments of service, the mind often defaults to a "deficiency" mindset—focusing on what was lost, what is broken, or what is missing.

This day serves as a strategic "reset" to shift that perspective. Here is some guidance on why these three pillars are vital for mental health and how your community can put them into practice:

1. Appreciate All That Nature Has to Offer

For those dealing with PTSD, anxiety, or burnout, the "sensory grounding" found in nature is a clinical asset. Nature doesn't demand anything from us; it simply exists.

Why it Matters: Nature lowers cortisol levels and reduces "rumination" (the repetitive negative thoughts common with depression). For those in high-intensity roles, the quiet rhythm of the outdoors provides a necessary contrast to the chaos of service.
Mental Health Tip: Try "Grounding 5-4-3-2-1" outside. Identify 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, and 1 you can taste (like the fresh air). This pulls the brain out of a trauma loop and into the present moment.

2. Focus on What We Possess (Life, Health, Family)

The "Invisible Wounds" often make us feel like we are defined by our limitations. Shifting focus to what we do have—even if it feels small—reclaims personal power.

Why it Matters: Practicing gratitude isn't about ignoring pain; it’s about building resilience. By acknowledging the support of family or the fact that we are still here (life), we build a "buffer" against the darker moments of mental health struggles.
Mental Health Tip: Perform a "Possession Audit." Instead of physical items, list "internal assets." Do you have a sense of humor? Loyalty? A supportive spouse? A roof over your head? Write down three things you possess today that no one can take away from you.

3. Share What We Have With Others

Isolation is the enemy of recovery. Service members and first responders are often "givers" by nature, and losing that sense of purpose can be detrimental to mental health.

Why it Matters: The "Helper's High" is a real biochemical reaction. When we share our time, a kind word, or a resource, our brains release oxytocin and dopamine. For a Veteran or Caregiver, sharing reminds them that they still have value and a mission.
Mental Health Tip: Reach out to one person in your circle who might be struggling more than you today. "Micro-volunteering"—like sending a check-in text or sharing a helpful resource—can break the cycle of isolation and provide a sense of renewed purpose.

Tips for Improving Mental Health Today:

The "No-Compare" Rule: For today, avoid social media. Comparison is the thief of joy. Focus entirely on your own "Ours Day" without measuring it against someone else's highlight reel.
Create a "Visual Anchor": Take a photo of something you appreciate today (a tree, your child, a sunrise) and set it as your phone background. When you feel a "mental fog" coming on, look at it to remind yourself of what is "yours."
Mindful Breathing: If the day feels overwhelming, take 2 minutes to breathe and realize that your breath is the most basic thing you "possess." It is the foundation of your health and life.

"If you had to pick one thing—one person, one memory, or one piece of nature—that makes you feel 'wealthy' in spirit, what would it be and why?"

"As veterans, we rarely had the opportunity to stop and smell the roses, to breathe in nature and appreciate all that was around us, or to take the time to just acknowledge all the blessings we did have. Instead, it was the universal right of every military member to complain about conditions. Charlie Daniels, in his song 'Still in Saigon', said it best when he stated, 'One minute I'd kneel down and pray, the next, I'd stand and curse,' which perfectly portrays the dichotomy each military member faces when it comes to deployments and missions. We would be in communion with our spiritual supreme being one moment and the next curse the very situation we found ourselves in, unable to appreciate the very gifts we did have and the blessings that filled our lives.

On this National All Is Ours Day, let's stop to appreciate the blessings we do have and not concentrate on those that bring us down."

Find out how to find the blessings around us tonight with Air Force veteran, author, and Peer Support Specialist Steven Bates with the Warriors for Life Mid-Week Musings Peer Support Group, brought to you by victoryforveterans.org"

Warriors for Life (WFL) Online "Mid-Week Musings!" edition presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) — Wednesday (TONIGHT), April 8, 2026, @ 4:30 PM PT, 5:30 PM MT, 6:30 PM CT, & 7:30 PM ET

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87440882846

Thank you,

Steven Bates, Air Force Veteran, Writer/Author, Peer Support Specialist/Adult Trainer, &

Volunteer Facilitator, Victory for Veterans, Inc.