Teenagers can be difficult. Any parent or educator of adolescents can confirm this. It's normal to push the envelope with authority during those tumultuous years from thirteen to twenty. But most kids even out and straighten up by the time graduation rolls around. Unfortunately, there are too many students who never make it to graduation.

Patrick Bet-David is a successful entrepreneur, motivational speaker and thought leader in business practices. His videos and presentations are designed to give life-lessons to burgeoning entrepreneurs in start-ups; but his lessons can be applied to any area of productivity. His enthusiasm is contagious, and listening to one of his lectures, you would never guess that his family escaped Iran years ago and settled in the United States to start a new life. Far from being discouraged by what he left behind, Patrick found a way to find the best life has to offer here and to share his secrets of success with others.

There was a time when people pitied parents who gave birth to a child with Downs Syndrome. But perceptions have changed over the years and now folks understand that these kids are just like any other child.

Computers, tablets, televisions, videos games, and smartphones have made screens pervasive. The result is that today's children have much more screen time than little ones had in previous generations. Some occupational therapists believe they are treating issues that derive directly from too much screen time.

French writer Luc de Clapiers once said, "If people did not compliment one another, there would be little society." Compliments function like social currency and often grease the wheels of our interpersonal interactions. The recipient of a well given compliment may remember it for years. One study even found that when exercising, people seem to perform better after receiving a compliment. However, many of us have a complicated relationship with compliments and recognition in general.

Freeze! What are you doing this very minute? If you're playing with your hair, chewing on a fingernail, or balancing a pet on your lap, you're using coping mechanisms to relieve stress and calm your nerves. And there's a whole industry out there trying to sell you more stuff to make you feel better.

Occupational Therapy, as some people mistakenly believe, isn't only about getting back to work after an illness or injury. There is a perception that OT is for stroke victims who need to "relearn" how to put on their socks or brush their teeth. It's true that OTs help adults of all levels regain practical skills lost or diminished for some medical or neurological reason. But it's also addressing how you "occupy" your time, not necessarily disabilities. Think of the things you do in your daily life that could be improved, and occupational therapy can help.

Are you looking for a way to set yourself apart from other candidates when applying for jobs? Or maybe, you want to make a change in your career, but don't know where to start. It can be overwhelming to think about, but there are simple changes that can help you to gain new experiences, meet new people and build your confidence to go after that job you have always wanted.

Hayley Moss didn't talk until she was four years old. Diagnosed with Autism at three, Moss's parents never let that lower expectations for their special daughter. They encouraged Hayley in every way and she is the first one to tell you she had a happy childhood. Being on the Autism Spectrum was never something that held her back. The encouragement of her family gave her the confidence to excel and succeed in everything she did. "I was the cool kid", she says, because she concentrated on her strengths and not her weaknesses. She credits the confidence her parents instilled in her for the triumphs that led her to be an author, an artist, and now one of the first licensed attorneys in Florida on the Autism Spectrum.