Official Wheatland Township Illinois

11/02/2026

YOUR VOICE STILL MATTERS. IN FACT, IT ALWAYS HAS.

Complacency doesn't always mean we've stopped caring.

Sometimes it means we've started believing that caring won't make a difference.

That's an important distinction.

When people become exhausted, frustrated, or disillusioned, it's easy to think:

What's one vote really going to change?

But collective change has never depended upon one person doing everything.

It depends upon many people deciding to do something.

Tomorrow, November 3rd, is Election Day.

Whatever your political affiliation, I hope you'll learn about what's on your ballot, think critically, look beyond slogans, examine the evidence, and participate.

You don't have to vote the way I vote.

You don't have to believe what I believe.

But don't surrender your voice because someone convinced you it doesn't matter.

This idea sits at the heart of my new book, "Q. How Did We Get to This Point? A. Because We Allowed It."

“No one changes the world alone. The world changes because enough people keep taking small steps in the same direction.”

Tomorrow, take one of those steps.

Vote.

Not because one ballot fixes everything.

Because democracy only works when ordinary people keep showing up.

No step is too small, though no step is passive acceptance.

10/26/2026

Most people don't wake up one day and choose complacency.

They drift there.

A little more exhaustion.
A little more distraction.
A little more uncertainty.
A little more waiting for someone else to step in.

Over time, things that once would have troubled us become normal. Conversations we should have become conversations we avoid. Problems we intend to address become problems we learn to live beside.

That doesn't make us weak.

It makes us human.

The ability to adapt is one of our greatest strengths. It helps us survive difficult circumstances, recover from hardship, and keep moving forward. But adaptation can also become dangerous when we begin adjusting to conditions we should be questioning.

That's the focus of this week's "Mental Health Moment."

The opposite of complacency isn't outrage.

It's awareness.

It's intentionality.

It's recognizing that our actions matter, even when they seem small.

Over the past year, I've spent a great deal of time exploring these ideas, which ultimately became my new book:

📖 **Q. HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT?**
**A. Because We Allowed It.**

To celebrate the launch and hopefully get these ideas into as many hands as possible, the Kindle edition is available **FREE on Amazon through October 30**, with the paperback edition currently discounted as well.

If you decide to read it, I hope it challenges you, encourages you, and reminds you that meaningful change rarely begins with extraordinary people.

It begins with ordinary people deciding to stop drifting.

And if the book resonates with you, I would be grateful for an honest review.

**No step is too small, though no step is passive acceptance.**

10/23/2026

Imagine knowing your life is falling apart, desperately wanting help, yet feeling too afraid to ask for it.

For many people struggling with addiction, the greatest barrier isn't always access to treatment. It's stigma.

Too often, individuals are labeled by their worst moments rather than seen as human beings experiencing a serious health condition. They worry about being judged, rejected, misunderstood, or viewed differently by family, employers, friends, and even healthcare providers. As a result, many continue suffering in silence.

The truth is that addiction can affect anyone. It’s influenced by a complex combination of biology, mental health, trauma, environment, relationships, and life experiences. Recovery begins when we replace judgment with understanding and ask, "How can we help?" rather than "What's wrong with you?"

The words we use matter. The assumptions we make matter. The compassion we show matters.

When we reduce stigma, we create more opportunities for people to seek help, remain engaged in treatment, and build meaningful lives in recovery.

In a recent article with Recovered, I discuss the impact of stigma in addiction treatment and how we can all help foster a more supportive path toward recovery.

What is one thing you wish more people understood about addiction and recovery?

AddictionRecovery

Learn how to recognize and overcome addiction stigma in rehab. Discover person-first language, expert insights, and effective support strategies for recovery.

10/12/2026

"I'm fine."

Sometimes those words mean, "I'm overwhelmed."

Sometimes they mean, "I'm exhausted."

Sometimes they mean, "I don't want to burden anyone."

In a world that expects us to keep pushing forward, many people are silently carrying far more than others realize.

This week's "Mental Health Moment" is a reminder that you don't have to have it all together, you don't have to carry everything alone, and you don't have to earn the right to ask for help.

If you've been feeling the pressure to always be okay, this message is for you.

10/07/2026

How many people have spent years suffering silently because they were taught never to speak about mental health?

For many adults of advanced age, depression isn't hidden because they don't care. It's hidden because they were taught to survive in silence.

Depression doesn't always sound like sadness. Some people grew up believing that talking about depression was a sign of weakness. So instead of saying, "I'm struggling," they say, "I'm just tired." Or, "I'm not sleeping well." Or, "I just don't feel like myself anymore."

Sometimes the first step toward healing isn't treatment. It's recognizing that what you're experiencing has a name.

This World Mental Health Week, let's listen more closely. Behind the fatigue, sleepless nights, brain fog, and withdrawal may be someone carrying a burden they never felt safe to name.

Real change begins when people feel safe enough to say, "I'm not okay."

For more information on the topic, feel free to read into my latest contribution with Everyday Health on “5 Tips for Managing Depression as You Age.”

Depression isn’t a normal part of aging. These expert tips can help.

10/05/2026

***Wheatland Wellness Series***

"General Considerations for Treating Co-Occurring Disorders"

Mental health and substance use concerns often intersect, affecting individuals, families, and communities in complex ways. Join us for an approachable and informative community presentation exploring co-occurring disorders, the term used when someone experiences both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder.

Together, we will examine common symptoms and contributing factors, consider how mental health and substance use can influence one another, and discuss why addressing both concerns through an integrated approach can support recovery. Most importantly, this presentation will reinforce a message of hope: co-occurring disorders are treatable, and people can recover with appropriate support, resources, and connection.

Learning Objectives
Participants will:
-Develop a clearer understanding of co-occurring disorders and related terminology.
-Recognize common features of mental health and substance use disorders.
-Consider how biological, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental factors may contribute to these concerns.
-Understand why integrated treatment addresses mental health and substance use together.
-Identify the importance of self-awareness, support systems, and practical recovery resources.
-The evening will conclude with an overview of Narcan provided by Bill Green, offering community members an opportunity to learn more about this important lifesaving resource.

No clinical background or previous knowledge is needed.

Whether you are interested in learning for yourself, supporting someone you care about, or becoming a more informed community member, you are warmly encouraged to attend. Come with questions, curiosity, and an openness to learning how understanding and compassion can help reduce stigma and strengthen our community.

Scheduled: Thursday, October 8th @ 6:00p

For more information, please visit

10/05/2026

Before you form an opinion, imagine it wasn't a stranger.

Imagine it was your daughter.

Imagine it was your son.

Imagine it was your spouse, your sibling, your best friend, or someone you love more than anyone or anything else.

They come to you and tell you they were assaulted.

Would your first response be to ask what they did wrong?

Or would your first response be to hold them while they cried?

In this week's “Mental Health Moment,” I explore the devastating impact of victim blaming, the mental health consequences survivors often carry for years, and why accountability matters.

Too often, public conversations focus on protecting the future of those accused of causing harm. Meanwhile, we rarely stop to consider the person whose future was changed without their consent.

This isn't an easy conversation, but it’s an important one.

I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch, reflect, and consider how compassion, accountability, and empathy can help create a safer world for everyone.

10/02/2026

Stay Informed About Upcoming Medicaid Changes. The federal government is enacting changes that may affect some Medicaid customers starting January 2027. Many customers will not be affected. Illinois Medicaid will contact you if these changes apply to you. Make sure the State can reach you. If you receive mail from the State of Illinois, open it right away - your coverage may depend on it. Update your address, phone number, and email today: Visit abe.illinois.gov or Call 877-805-5312. For more details and updates, check https://hfs.illinois.gov/info/fedresctr/faqshowwillfedchimpactmedicaid.html

09/30/2026

As National Recovery Month comes to a close, one message is becoming increasingly clear: progress rarely has a single cause.

A recent Forbes Health article explores why alcohol use in the U.S. has declined for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, including growing interest in whether GLP-1 medications may be helping reduce alcohol cravings for some individuals. Early research is encouraging, but the evidence also reminds us to remain cautiously optimistic as the science continues to evolve.

At the same time, alcohol consumption trends are being shaped
by much more than medication alone. Younger generations, particularly Gen Z, have demonstrated changing attitudes toward alcohol, often placing greater emphasis on physical health, mental well-being, and lifestyle balance. Economic realities may also play a role, as the rising cost of going out leads many to rethink drinking habits. My contribution to the article touched on these broader generational and cultural shifts that appear to be influencing behavior alongside emerging treatment options.

The takeaway? There is no single explanation for reduced drinking in America. Instead, it appears to be the result of multiple forces working together: advances in treatment, increased health awareness, evolving social norms, and changing priorities across generations.

Recovery, prevention, and healthier choices are often shaped by many small changes that collectively make a very big difference.

U.S. Alcohol Use Falls For First Time Since Covid-19 Pandemic—Is It Because Of GLP-1s?

09/29/2026

***Upcoming Wheatland Township Wellness Series Presentation***

General Considerations for Treating Co-Occurring Disorders
Mental health and substance use concerns often intersect, affecting individuals, families, and communities in complex ways. Join us for an approachable and informative community presentation exploring co-occurring disorders, the term used when someone experiences both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder.

Together, we will examine common symptoms and contributing factors, consider how mental health and substance use can influence one another, and discuss why addressing both concerns through an integrated approach can support recovery. Most importantly, this presentation will reinforce a message of hope: co-occurring disorders are treatable, and people can recover with appropriate support, resources, and connection.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:
· Develop a clearer understanding of co-occurring disorders and related terminology.
· Recognize common features of mental health and substance use disorders.
· Consider how biological, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental factors may contribute to these concerns.
· Understand why integrated treatment addresses mental health and substance use together.
· Identify the importance of self-awareness, support systems, and practical recovery resources.

The evening will conclude with an overview of Narcan provided by Bill Green, offering community members an opportunity to learn more about this important lifesaving resource.

No clinical background or previous knowledge is needed. Whether you are interested in learning for yourself, supporting someone you care about, or becoming a more informed community member, you are warmly encouraged to attend. Come with questions, curiosity, and an openness to learning how understanding and compassion can help reduce stigma and strengthen our community.

Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Wheatland Township Building