riversled's Blog

These are journal entries from Louri Frost, a free lance writer who spent three days at a wilderness therapy program called RedCliff Ascent. Check it out...see what you think!

Day 1

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=557000

Day 2

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=556998

Day 3

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=556996

Check out the 2:00 min video about a handicapped calf and the effect it had on a troubled teen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo3C4Jb--08

Interesting article...take a look! This isn't news to anyone over forty!

 "Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled - and More Miserable Than Ever Before."

http://www.bradenton.com/news/breaking_news/story/1964559.html

The report states: "…that after using it for 18 hours his hallucinations led him to believe that centipedes were crawling over him and biting him…this led him to receive hospital treatment after he ripped his scrotum off."

It can become addictive and when taken with alcohol or cut with other drugs it could result in death.

 “Bullet in my shoulder…blood…runnin’ down my vest. Twenty in the posse…and they’re never gonna let me rest! Till I became a wanted man I never even owned a gun. But now they hunt me like a mountain cat…and I’m always…Always…Always on the run! A wanted man…” 

With eyes constricted and focused, he ran to the cliff. It was the only way out. A narrow passage almost straight up. A six-shooter in his right hand and the holster strapped to his thigh, he new he might be meeting his maker soon.

With one more step to freedom, it happened…the unmistakable sound of a pearl handled revolver. Blam…Blam…Blam. He arched his back, arms flailing to the side. The acrid smell of gunpowder hung heavy in the air, darkness closed in around him and he fell…tumbling head over heels until he slid to a stop at the base. With life still flickering, he sensed the hot breath of his nemesis. He felt the sharp blow of a kick in the side and the high-pitched voice yelled out…”Ok…good one, now it’s my turn.” 

For two boys aged 10 and 6, playing “stunt man” on the stairs, with cap guns direct from Santa, was a game filled with danger and excitement. The Frankie Lane album playing in the background on dads Hi Fi Stereo added a sense of drama and reality. The goal of “stunt man” was to see who could fall down the stairs the most convincingly after being shot with a pearl handled cap gun. No half-hearted falls or hops or slides. This was the real thing. When tumbling head over heels to the bottom, total relaxation was the key. 

The record now made the scratchy static sound as the needle rhythmically moved back and forth in the center of the album. We were done with “Stunt Man” for now, but tomorrow would bring a new day…maybe riding cookie sheets down the stairs. Yeah, that’s it…cookie sheets. 

Hoping that you, your family and friends can recognize those moments in time that transcend the "Tasks" of everyday life and bring true meaning to your relationships. 

Wishing all a wonderful Holiday Season, Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!  

Click on the link below, then watch the video entitled, "The Gift"

So often we take for granted the great blessings we have here in America as well as other industrialized nations. This video is a brief 2 min video that tells the story of how a few made a difference in the lives of many!

I hope you enjoy...then DO something!

http://www.redcliffascent.com/video/

"He was obviously having a hard time keeping his balance, but was very conscientious not to spill the two “fifths” he had, one in each hand. He stumbled over beside me and kindly offered me a drink. I mentioned I was doing just fine…he offered again. I said, “No thanks, I’m good just sitting here by the fire.” He then turned back to the fire and in one uncoordinated gesture proceeded to pour what was left of the fifth in his left hand, on the fire!"

Read more here

http://www.experienceproject.com/uw.php?e...

Check out this short video that discusses the principle of "Strength in the Struggle"! I think you'll be impressed.

http://www.discoveryranch.net/videos/

Read my story here on EP (which is actually a true letter sent from the father), about a fathers love for his troubled son.

http://www.experienceproject.com/uw.php?e...

Check out a new website set up to assist families who struggle with a wayward son or daughter.

www.redcliffdiscovery.org

How can we, as friends, family, co-workers and neighbors assist teens to understand that many times they simply don't know what they don't know...often they head down some very destructive paths!

This is a video interview sent to me by the mother featured in the video. The daughter was able to turn her life around. Take a look...

http://www.jcsbaltimore.org/article.php?id=369

You can also check out some places to assist families through the intervention process here...

www.troubledteensprogram.com

This is a brief experience I shared in "My Stories" about my youngest daughter. It's kind of a fun story that certainly taught me a lesson in parenting.

Take a look;

http://www.experienceproject.com/uw.php?e...

Since I work within the healthcare field, I thought it appropriate to discuss the National Healthcare debate. It doesn't matter if you want a public option or not. It doesn't matter if you are Republican, Democrat or Independent.

The bottom line is that, "If you fail to learn from history, you are bound to repeat it"!

Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University, and no one says it better.

"At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means Committee, along with President Johnson, estimated that Medicare would cost an inflation-adjusted $12 billion by 1990. In 1990, Medicare topped $107 billion. That's nine times Congress' prediction. Today's Medicare tab comes to $420 billion with no signs of leveling off. How much confidence can we have in any cost estimates by the White House or Congress?"

Read more here;

http://economics.gmu.edu/wew/articles/09/Washington'sLies.htm

RedCliff Ascent was a founding member of the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Industry Cooperative.

If you are interested in learning about a cool way to kick a drug habit, check out the link below.

"Dr. Russell established that the drop in substance abuse following treatment was almost certainly due to the effectiveness of the treatment they experienced, because the programs were able to inspire their clients to want to give up on, or significantly reduce, their use of alcohol and drugs."

http://www.obhic.com/research/drugs-and-getting-motivated-to-give-them-up.html

www.redcliffascent.com