Balanced Veterans Network | BVN

We’ve got an unforgettable opportunity here. We’re giving away 3 pit tickets to see Morgan Wallen at Soldier Field this June 20,2026. Yeah, sure Morgan Wallen and Ella Langley are the hook. But this is about something bigger. Balanced Veterans Network is in a new chapter. We’re focused on real stories, real growth, and giving veterans access to tools that actually help them build a better life after service. Movement. Mental wellness. community. accountability. No fluff. No recycled narratives. Every $25 donation gets you entered to win. That money goes straight back into what we’re building. More veteran stories. More access. More opportunities for people who are actually doing the work. If you’ve been rocking with us, this is a way to be part of it. 
If you’re new here, this is a pretty good place to start. Donate. Enter. Share it with someone who would want in. Hit the link for official rules and details: (Link in bio)/morgan-wallen-tickets/ — Concert Details:
Morgan Wallen live at Soldier Field in Chicago
Special guest Ella Langley
3 pit tickets | June 2026

Yesterday our team had the honor of attending the Psychedelic Medicine Coalition (@psychedelicmedicinecoalition ) Federal Summit and a veteran health symposium in Washington, D.C.. To sit in rooms filled with congressional representatives, doctors, researchers, scientists, advocates, veterans, and nonprofit leaders all focused on the future of mental health and breakthrough therapies was incredibly powerful. The conversations happening right now around psychedelic medicine, trauma recovery, veteran suicide prevention, policy reform, and access to care are real, serious, and moving faster than ever before. What stood out most was the momentum. People from all sides are beginning to recognize that veterans and struggling Americans deserve more options, more education, and the right to explore safe, evidence-based treatments that could genuinely change and save lives. These conversations are no longer happening in the shadows. They are happening at the national level with leaders, lawmakers, and world-class researchers at the table. There is still a tremendous amount of education, advocacy, and legislation needed to move this forward responsibly, but the energy in DC was undeniable. Change is happening. A huge shoutout to Melissa Lavasani and the entire PMC team for the unbelievable attention to detail, professionalism, and excellence throughout the summit. We are deeply grateful to have been included in these conversations. An immense thank you as well to Dr. Rachel Yehuda, whose work has inspired so many in the veteran mental health space. Meeting and learning from pioneers like her reminds us why this mission matters so much. And to all the incredible connections made this week in Washington DC… thank you. The future of healing will be built through courageous conversations, collaboration, science, advocacy, and community. Thank you to the politicians leaning in, learning and taking action. Balance is built, not found.

This week, our team at Balanced Veterans Network was in Washington, D.C. standing alongside advocates, researchers, veterans, and leaders fighting for something simple: the freedom for people to heal. Our team was able to speak on behalf of veterans around the nation. We will share that soon. At BVN, we believe veterans should have the right to access therapies that are helping save lives. Education and research matter, and we fully support both, but the reality is this conversation can’t stay stuck in endless debate while veterans continue dying. Veterans die by suicide at significantly higher rates than the general population. Too many are still suffering in silence while effective tools, plant medicines, and breakthrough therapies remain buried under stigma, policy barriers, and outdated systems. What we witnessed in D.C. this week was real movement. Real conversations. Real collaboration. Real people pushing for change. From walking the halls of Congress to sitting in rooms filled with policymakers, researchers, nonprofit leaders, and fellow advocates, the momentum is undeniable. The connections made and friendships formed this week were built on mutual respect, shared purpose, and a commitment to helping people heal. A huge thank you to Students for Sensible Drug Policy leadership, Decriminalize Now, and every advocate who showed up, shared their story, educated others, and fought for a better future. Thank you will never be enough. Balanced Veterans Network will continue standing up for the veterans, families, and individuals who feel unheard, overlooked, or left behind. We are here for the people who cannot keep waiting.

This week our team is in Washington D.C. standing alongside advocates, veterans, organizations, and leaders from across the country for Unity Week. We didn’t come here for photo ops or empty conversations. We came here to represent the veterans and families who are tired of outdated systems, tired of stigma, and tired of watching people suffer while progress crawls forward. For years we’ve listened to veterans talk about chronic pain, trauma, addiction, sleep issues, anxiety, and the struggle to find real support after service. We’ve also watched people completely change the direction of their lives through community, education, movement, plant medicine, and alternative wellness approaches. The reality is simple: Too many lives are still being damaged by policies that no longer reflect the world people are actually living in. This week is about bringing those conversations directly to the people shaping legislation and reform. Not someday. Now. We’re grateful to be part of the conversation with @ssdpofficial and the @decriminalizenow as advocates from all backgrounds come together to push for smarter policy, criminal justice reform, decriminalization, and a more human approach to healing and recovery. The work continues. The conversations matter. And we’re proud to make sure the veteran voice is part of it. Balance is built, not found.

A huge heartfelt thank you from all of us at Balanced Veterans Network to @paulstamets and @hostdefense for their generous donation of CordyChi to our community. CordyChi combines cordyceps and reishi mushrooms, two powerful functional mushrooms that have been used for centuries to support overall wellness and balance. Many veterans in our community are exploring healthier routines, better recovery, stress management, improved sleep, and ways to support both physical and mental well-being. Functional mushrooms like these are often associated with benefits such as immune system support, increased energy and stamina, stress resilience, recovery support, focus, and promoting a calmer nervous system. At Balanced Veterans Network, we believe healing and wellness can look different for everyone. We’re grateful to partner with organizations willing to support veterans as they explore education, movement, mindfulness, nutrition, community, and innovative wellness tools that may help improve quality of life. Thank you again to Paul and the Host Defense team for believing in our mission and helping us continue building healthier, more connected lives for veterans and their families. Balance is built, not found. #functionalmushrooms #veteranwellness #balancedveterans

Your mind will replay the same patterns over and over if you let it. The doubt, the anger, the guilt, the feeling that you’re behind in life or somehow broken after service. A lot of veterans stay stuck there for years and slowly start believing the voice in their head instead of challenging it. Moving forward takes work. Real work. Not motivational quote work. The kind where you start being honest with yourself, take accountability, clean up habits, surround yourself with better people, move your body, learn to slow your mind down, and keep showing up even when you don’t feel like it. That’s what we’re building at Balanced Veterans Network. Not a place to sit around and stay stuck in the past, but a community focused on growth, connection, healing, purpose, and building a better life after service. You don’t have to have it all figured out today. Just don’t stop building. Join the free BVN community through our app or our website BVN.VET

At 65, John MacBean says his journey is just getting started. There’s something powerful about watching the older generation lead by example instead of slowing down. The discipline. The mindset. The refusal to quit on themselves. It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t have an expiration date. Too many people think it’s too late to change, too late to heal, too late to chase a goal or reinvent themselves. It’s not. Set the goal. Take the first step. Start walking in a different direction. Your next chapter can start today. At Balanced Veterans Network, we believe balance is built, not found. Through movement, mental wellness, community, cannabis education, and innovative therapies, we’re helping veterans build healthier and more meaningful lives after service. Join our free community via your favorite App Store and share what helps you! “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C.S. Lewis Keep Building. #balancedveterans #veteranmade #veteran #veteranssupport

Movement matters. Not because you need to become some elite athlete or crush yourself in the gym every day. Movement matters because when you stop moving, life gets heavy fast. A lot of us after service get stuck. Stress. PTSD. Pain. Isolation. Bad habits. You wake up tired, sit with your thoughts too long, and before you know it your body and mind both start working against you. That’s why movement is such a huge part of Balanced Veterans Network. Walks. Stretching. Yoga. Lifting. Getting outside. Breathing deeper. Just doing something instead of nothing. Our Intro to Wellness classes exist to help veterans get started without feeling judged or overwhelmed. No ego, no pressure, no “perfect” starting point. Just good people trying to build healthier lives together. Balance is built not found.

📣 You don't have to be in D.C. to make your voice heard! Can't make the trip? Here's how to advocate for cannabis reform from home ➡

BVN DEPLOYMENT: Analog to Digital PART 1 📐🛠️ Traded the SAW for a rig. Same SOP, way less sand in my boots. 🎥⚔️ **Phase 1: Analog Intel.** Drawing it by hand so I start easy . ✏️ **Phase 2: Vector the target.** Like Land Nav, but the pixels actually stay where you put ‘em. 📐 **Phase 3: Manufacture.** Building the new @BalancedVeteransNetwork interactive hardware. 🛠️ To my #Chicago and #CookCounty dispensary managers: We’re engineering the future of veteran outreach. Tap the model, join the mission. 🛡️ Let Break it down Barney Style. Part 2 #reels #kerriganstudio #balancedveteransnetwork

“Veterans should not have to leave the country to heal.” That’s a statement our Government Affairs Coordinator, @ayahuascaej , recently shared while sitting down to talk about the realities of advocacy, policy change, and the future of veteran legislation. Next week our team from Balanced Veterans Network will be in Washington, DC having important conversations and attending meetings focused on advancing legislation not only for veterans, but for all people seeking access to alternative and innovative modalities. Since day one, we have stood in the gap for the veterans who felt voiceless in these conversations. The ones exploring cannabis, mindfulness, movement, psychedelic research, community, and other paths to healing that too many systems still ignore or stigmatize. For nearly a decade we’ve witnessed the impact firsthand. We’ve heard the stories. We’ve watched lives change. We’ve seen veterans reconnect with purpose, family, health, and themselves. Now it’s time to continue bringing those stories into rooms where decisions are being made. Send the team some good vibes as we head into the snake pit next week to advocate, educate, and represent this community with integrity. Balance is built, not found.

What if you got a little more selfish in the right way What if you actually started taking care of yourself You’ve heard it before put your own oxygen mask on first Most people nod at that and keep going Veterans especially We’re wired to serve To push through To take care of everyone else But here’s the truth If you’re running on empty you’re not helping anyone You’re just burning out slower This came straight from John’s story Not theory not talk lived experience He learned the hard way that neglecting yourself doesn’t make you stronger It just delays the crash Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish It’s responsibility Start small Sleep better Move your body Pay attention to your thoughts Get around people who actually hold you accountable You don’t need a full reset overnight Just one better decision today Tap in for the full story and learn more about how you can build some balance in your life.