Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, Since I have started this journey of growth and learning I have tried to educate myself and improve myself. One of the things that I like to do is, in the morning I like to put on a audio book or a pod cast on to listen to as I am getting ready for my day. I have never been an audio book fan, because I felt that was cheating instead of actually reading a book, which is ironic in itself because I was not reading in the first place. But I figured that I would do this while I am getting ready and especially when my favorite time of shaving with my safety razor, shaving with a safety razor, the soap mug, and the brush just starts me day off with a nice clean shave just and the experience so enjoyable. But what I find myself doing is as I am listening (or I thought I was at least) my mind begins to wonder and think about what a person said or something that I recall at home, work, or an experience that I had. I mean I love the idea of listening while I get ready, but my mind begins to wander about things and experiences, and I know I am missing out on key points. This got me to wandering, when people are talking to me and I automatically start to build my response, my case, or my defense, am I truly listening to what that person is saying? Is this how most arguments proceed because we stop listening at one point and start our strategy? So, I started working on as I am getting ready for work and I am listening, I try to catch myself and keep my mind from wandering into that response zone and focus on what is being said. Practicing this while I am getting ready has helped me be to be in tune and engaged when I am actually talking to a person, and I have noticed big change in how I interact and communicate with people. This has also helped me gain more knowledge while I am listening to these pod cast and audio books. Because now I am listening to learn and not to respond. if you feel that you are like this that when you are engaged in conversations and you feel you are not listening fully to that person you are in communication with, try listening to pod cast or audio books and focus on what the person is saying and when you feel you are wandering off, stop go back to where you feel you lost communication with your mind and start again. It will greatly enhance you communication skills and you will learn to value what other are truly saying.

🇺🇸USO Day🇺🇸 USO Day is a special occasion that spotlights the United Service Organizations (USO) and its long-running mission: helping service members and their families feel supported, connected, and a little more at home wherever duty takes them. At its heart, the USO is about morale. That can sound abstract until it becomes practical: a welcoming place to sit during travel, a warm drink and a snack, a friendly conversation, a live show that breaks up the stress of deployment, or a program that helps families navigate the unique pressures of military life. USO Day invites the public to notice that kind of behind-the-scenes care and to celebrate the people who make it happen. The day also shines a light on how broad “support” can be. For some, support looks like entertainment and laughter. For others, it looks like simple comforts during long travel days, resources for families, or community-building that reduces isolation. USO Day encourages an appreciation of all those pieces, especially the volunteers and donors who make many USO services possible. USO Day is celebrated to acknowledge the many ways the organization has positively impacted the lives of service members across generations. The USO has been described as a “home away from home,” and that idea still applies even as the needs of the military community change. A home away from home is not just a building. It is a feeling: being seen, welcomed, and cared for at times when schedules are unpredictable and stress can run high. While the USO is often associated with famous performers visiting troops, the organization’s work extends far beyond the stage. USO centers commonly focus on hospitality and human connection, offering a safe, friendly environment that can ease the strain of being far from familiar routines. That support benefits individuals on the move and also the families who share the emotional weight of service, including parents, partners, and children. Celebrating USO Day is also about encouraging public involvement. The USO is a nonprofit organization that relies heavily on volunteers and donations to carry out its mission.

So yesterday morning the heater stopped working in my kenworth and I had to drop it off and pick up our ag Mack to drive the rest of the day Anyways some trucking humor for y’all They say a man driving a Mack truck is an a$$hole cause he stares as one all day, meaning the back of the dog ornament on the hood for those that haven’t been around the trucking industry Anyways this rig has 19 different gears 4 low and 4 high for driving 4 low and 4 high for reverse Then low and low low for forward and reverse and then has granny gear