MAKING A DIFFERENCE QUIETLY OUTSIDE THE LIMELIGHT!

MAKING A DIFFERENCE QUIETLY OUTSIDE THE LIMELIGHT

James R. Fisher, Jr., Ph.D.
© October 2007

"Life's cares are comforts; such by heaven design'd; he that hath none must make them, or be wretched; cares are employments; and without employ the soul is on the rack; the rack of rest, to souls most adverse; action all their joy."

Edward Young (1623 - 1765), English poet

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It is more than thirty-five years ago that I first met Dr. Blondel Senior. I was a mature graduate student at the University of South Florida pursuing a Ph.D. in organization-industrial psychology, after recently retiring from an international executive career in my mid-thirties. He was a professor at USF, and from that contact, has blossomed a lifelong friendship. We have consulted together, and eventually, when I went back into industry, joined each other as organizational development (OD) psychologists at Honeywell Avionics in Clearwater, Florida.

Behind that connection, there was and continued to be a personal dedication of which I was not aware. Dr. Senior was helping troubled young men find their way back to purpose, health and meaningful activity. His partner in this work was his wife Gloria, who is much accomplished in her own right, and if anything more quietly so than even her husband.

The synergy between them has literally moved mountains as they took an idea, developed it in its nascent form in the Orlando area, and then transplanted it to a majestic mountain retreat in Tennessee. There they started modestly and patiently nearly a score of years ago with a prescription of wisdom, love and dedication building a new community around the idea simply called the "Advent Home."

AD's singular objective then as now was to take troubled young men and reverse the ravages of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and restore their minds, bodies and character to health and well being so they could function successfully as contributing young adults to society.

Dr. Senior writes:

"ADHD is a neurological disorder affecting approximately 5 percent of American children. They are easily distracted, bored, depressed and have low concentration. Others are impulsive, hyperactive and have difficulty finishing tasks or remembering details."

He goes on to suggest, "I believe many children are actually misdiagnosed as having ADHD. Parents tell me about teachers who demand that disruptive students be suspended until a physician diagnoses them with ADHD and prescribes medication to keep them still. Some physicians willing comply."

Then Dr. Senior goes on to describe the nature of a typical student that comes to Advent Home:

"Many students arrive at Advent Home taking between 2 and 14 different medications. I recognize that medication can be beneficial, nevertheless, it is often overemphasized, and the effective use of natural remedies and lifestyle changes are not viewed with the respect they deserve. So, when these boys come to Advent Home, what is our approach?"

This is where Dr. Blondel and Gloria Senior take the path less chosen. They don't climb on the rhetoric platform, as I do, and insist that most chronic disorders are cultural and endemic to lifestyle excesses. They do something about it, quietly, unobtrusively and effectively.

The Seniors insist that the body and spirit are one; that so identified behavioral change, which at first blush might appear as miraculous, becomes the normal order of the day by taking careful steps away from cultural distractions towards the essence of being.

Now, how do they do that?

Advent Home's approach is to provide a minimum distracting environment, a regulated purposeful schedule of activities, daily chores, work assignments, recreation in the fresh air and sunshine, plus a healthy diet, all programmed to reduce the symptoms of ADHD and without the need for so much medication, so that the student is now alert and ready to appreciate and master a challenging academic curriculum.

Some students entering Advent Home stayed up late watching television, and were too tired to wake up early for school the next day. Others were bombarded with damaging distractions such as harmful music, movies, computer games, hobbies and inappropriate relationships, which contributed to ADHD-like symptoms, necessitating pharmaceutical therapeutic interventions.

Dr. Senior continues: "Anger and frequent outbursts in tired and over stimulated teens are often mislabeled as bipolar disorders. At Advent Home, we conduct group sessions where our students freely express their feelings and receive constructive feedback on numerous issues. Caring attention and affection from AH staff help cultivate a sense of 'home away from home.' As our boys feel more secure and learn to express their emotions, their anger subsides."

He is convinced that many of today's so-called ADHD symptoms are behaviors of "wasted minds and tired bodies." Dr. Senior's formula of healing agents such as work regularity, outdoor activity, sleep, and a minimum-distraction environment works. The evidence?

A recent survey of Advent Home parents by the E. A. Sutherland Education Association (EASEA) indicated high satisfaction with teachers and their methods:

· 92 percent agree students have access to a variety of learning resources.
· 88 percent believe students receive adequate help from school personnel.
· 92 percent agree that teachers are preparing students to continue education at more advanced levels.
· 96 percent believe teachers are help their children grow spiritually as well as physically and emotionally.

Dr. Senior's system of Maturation Therapy ® maintains a full academic curriculum through high school with modern classrooms, a complete library, science laboratory and computer training facilities.

The faculty and counselors are nearly two-to-one to the students with counselors living on campus. The student population is kept low -- somewhere in the high teens -- to ensure maximum connection and confluence.

The school is fully accredited and the teachers all certified, many with or in the process of earning advanced degrees. Students have gone on to excel at major American universities in professional pursuits including medicine, nursing, education and engineering.

Although Dr. Senior is the founder and director of the school along with his wife, Gloria, he once was a well-known international seminar leader and trainer in such areas as stress and time management. In a recent Advent Home Update, he availed the reader of a practical guide to time management. I would like to close with it as it summarizes what American psychologist William James called our "pragmatic philosophy." Here I am quoting as it appears in the latest Advent Home Update:

All of us have 24 hours each day, but too often it just isn't enough! We could all benefit from learning how to use the time we have more wisely. Here are seven suggestions on how to improve your personal effectiveness:

1. Make a list. Write down what you have to do. During the day, add or subtract from your list. Don't rely on memory, but use a notebook, planner or pocket calendar.

2. Set priorities. Priority "A" items must be done first. The "C" items can wait until the A's are completed. Avoid a "B" list, which means you can't make up your mind. Be decisive about each item.

3. Manger interruptions. You will be interrupted. Calls, visitors, crises, and other distractions will pressure you to change your priorities. Accept interruptions, but keep them short, give a good response, delegate, or add to your list.

4. Stay focused. If you get distracted, return to your plan as soon as possible. Learn to say no courteously. If you fee out of control, STOP. Rework your priority list and resume control.

5. Wisely conserve your energy. Know your limitations. Don't promise the impossible. Work smart. Avoid burnout, which results from unnecessary stress, anger, fear, poor diet, insufficient sleep, lack of exercise, and neglect of spirituality.

6. Cultivate a positive attitude. Your attitude drives you. Stay motivated by staying positive and in control. To take charge of your life; let go and let God!

7. Practice the four D's: When handling paper: dump it, delegate it, do it, delay it!

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For your information: Advent Home Youth Services, Inc., 900 County Road 950, Calhoun, TN 37309-5150; website: www.adventhome.org; e-mail address; info@adventhome.org.