Toby Keith (1961–2024) rose from oil rig worker and bar gigs to country legend with 33 #1 hits and his own label.
Nothing says American pride like “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” 🇺🇸
Toby didn’t just sing it—he proved it—with 18 USO tours, performing for over 250,000 troops across 17–18 countries, from Iraq/Afghanistan FOBs to ships at sea.
I remember listening to this song on my way home from work almost daily when my husband was active-duty USAF, working long hours. We were stationed at a very remote Army post in California. This song inspired me to keep going.
The troops also loved Toby for showing up in war zones and remote spots, performing this song to massive cheers 🔥
True patriot forever. 🔥
#RIPTobyKeith
A PICTURE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.
Team USA honored Johnny Gaudreau by bringing his 2 kids out to the ice and holding his jersey up for a picture after winning the God Medal.
Johnny and his brother Matthew were killed by a drunk driver in 2024, which kept him off the ice today.
What an incredible tribute that his family will never forget.
This is BIGGER THAN HOCKEY.
If you woke up today and
> have a job
> can call both your parents
> not physically ill
> have somewhere to go back home to
it is a good day regardless of what else is going on in the world or what you might be stressed about
easy to take these things for granted
So I have been thinking about folks between 28-35.
It has become obvious to me that this phase of life is one of the most misunderstood and emotionally demanding seasons anyone will ever pass through.
At this age, life quietly removes the training wheels. You are no longer seen as young and figuring it out, yet you don’t fully feel established. Expectations rise from every direction. Family expects stability. Society expects progress. Your peers seem to be doing better online. And you expect answers from yourself that are not yet clear.
This is the age where comparison becomes dangerous. You start measuring your life against timelines that were never designed for you. Someone is married. Someone bought a house. Someone relocated. Someone is already tired of a career you are just entering. And without warning, pressure creeps in, not because you are failing, but because you are becoming more aware.
Between 28-35, many people are not lazy or unserious. They are simply overwhelmed. This is the stage where reality replaces motivation. Where dreams meet bills. Where talent meets structure. Where passion demands discipline. You are forced to confront gaps in your skills, mindset, finances, and emotional health.
It is also the age where isolation becomes common. Friends drift. Circles shrink. Conversations become transactional. You are surrounded by people, yet feel alone. And when there is no strong sense of purpose or progress, escape starts to look attractive, whether through distractions, unhealthy habits, or quiet resignation.
But this phase is not a curse. It is a construction site.
It is the age where you must stop relying on potential and start building systems. Where you must upgrade skills, not for applause, but for survival and relevance. Where you learn that no one is coming to save you, yet you are more capable than you ever realized.
If you are between 28-35 and feel lost, tired, or behind, it does not mean something is wrong with you. It means you are awake. Growth at this stage is rarely loud. It is often lonely, uncomfortable, and slow. But it is also foundational.
This season rewards those who stay honest with themselves, invest in learning, choose better environments, and keep moving even when clarity is incomplete.
PLEASE romanticize your life, take pretty pictures, feel like the main character, light up a candle, read books, go for a walk, dance to your favorite music, buy yourself presents, do whatever you want, be happy. this is your life, don’t let anyone take it from you