Positive Alternatives

Our interview with Augie Ghilarducci who spent 13 years in prison and now returns to those same prisons to help inmates find a better path upon their own release. He uses his experience to teach successful skills and provide a second chance.   2nd Opportunity LLC

Thanksgiving Eve, the time when the students come home from college to connect with old friends is one of the big party times of the year. Have a plan, enjoy the camaraderie, and get home safely.

We don't talk AT Teens, we discuss ideas and issue WITH teens. It's called communication on a respectful level. This is a refreshing conversation about leadership, growth, and vision for a brighter future. Great things afoot at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, IL.

In this episode of 5 Minute Thoughts I share some observations about the art of getting started. Remember, showing up and getting started is half the battle. Once you cross that threshold you are on your way.

Part # 2 of our 2 part interview with Dr. Kathleen Burke. We continue our discussion on how substance use disorder is an evil foe not to be taken lightly. How many potentially great people have we lost to this insidious enemy? Will compassionate care lead us out of the darkness? Dr. Burke argues that Science is our best tool in this difficult battle to save lives.

When friends disagree it's important to remain friends. The value of friendship should not be overlooked. It is the ninth wonder of this world.

The Kathleen Burke Interview Part 1 - The journey to help others in their battle against substance abuse comes to Dr. Burke's home where she discovers the tales told to her by parents of children suffering from the disease of addiction becomes all too familiar. Not to be deterred, she buckles in for the battle.

In the episode of Positive Alternatives 5 Minute Thoughts, (which goes a bit over 5 minutes again, I just can't seem to keep my word) we discuss the merits of living a life the proper way through a plan of mind - body balance. You can't have one without the other.

Our interview with Dagmar Kauffman - Founder of On Balance Parenting, Collaborator, Peaceful Warrior, and Educator of Educators. We discuss how young people are losing out on the opportunity to grow and learn from their mistakes when parents step in and fix what may not really be broken.

In this episode of 5 Minute Thoughts, I share how even us old guys need to work on the basics. Make that thing you wanna' do becomes that thing you easily do. Practice, practice, practice.

There are things that catch your eye when you are surfing the 'net. You surely know what I am saying. The Internet. Where you read it and just know it has to be true?

Instead of hiding from the conversation of death and dying, isn't a better idea to speak of it on occasion? I don't mean we need to dwell on it. We need to enjoy our precious time here on earth among the living. But it might be healthy for each of us to have a chat from time to time to help ease the inevitable pain we all have and we will leave others with when that time comes.

In this episode we talk about how positive role models can help clear the view for teens seeking to make positive choices in their lives. It's always beneficial to have a good example to emulate as they live their best life.

In this 5 Minutes Thoughts episode I discuss one Positive Alternative is to make good choices. The focus is for you follow some easy, or maybe not so easy, steps to light your way.

According to an article in my recent AARP newsletter, the fastest growing rate for recreational cannabis users are people over 50 years of age. While we are rightfully concerned about how mixed messages are received by our youth when it comes to legalized pot; it seems the message is becoming pretty clear to our senior citizens on this issue.