What happens when a former street kid, a teenager runaway from an abusive home eventually becomes an adult in any role or relationship that requires trust? Burdened with low self-esteem, feelings of failure, and often being self-destructive, the street kid needs to break the cycle of past abuse in order to not pass on, to future loved ones, the patterns of the dysfunctional family.

Wisdom from the Streets, the first book in a trilogy by Kedric H. Cecil, Ph. D. offers insight into the conflict within that many of us feel as we struggle between success and failure.

As he writes about a time when he was a teenage runaway on the streets of Seattle, Dr. Cecil reveals his life up to age 24, seeking the roots of his failure and self-destruction. Eventually becoming a therapist to troubled kids and families, the author writes about his true-life journey, revealing the wisdom process needed to help both himself and others.

Honest and often humorous, the book is written from two perspectives, both as the street kid and also as the therapist. It is a journey deep within a family therapist’s own soul, and offers suggestions and encouragement to engage in the change process as we travel along our own path toward self-empowerment.

In Wisdom from the Streets, Dr. Cecil offers wisdom and insight for:

• PARENTS who often feel frustrated and confused about how to have a good connection with their children at any age.

• TEENAGERS who often feel that no one listens or cares.

• ADULT CHILDREN OF DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES who have problems with relationships, feelings of failure, or just want to run away from it all.

• VICTIMS of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.

Reviews

“Wisdom from the Streets” is a book that provides keys to peace of mind for adult children of dysfunctional homes, at-risk children and parents struggling to improve their relationships and communications with their children. 

Family therapist Kedric Cecil’s book, “Wisdom from the Streets,” has been well received by both therapists and their patients. 

Cecil promotes both his book and his mother’s book, “Journeys of the Heart,” by Venus E. Bardanouve, offering help for nearly everyone having difficulty building solid, healthy relationships. It speaks to, among others: 

• Adults who need help coming to grips with their dysfunctional childhoods; 

• At-risk teens unable to communicate with their parents or feel that anyone really listens to them; 

• Parents who often feel unable to relate to their children or allow their children the freedom to learn from their own mistakes; 

• Victims of physical, emotional or sexual abuse. 

The holder of a doctorate of philosophy in psychology, Cecil uses his own dysfunctional childhood to convey his message of hope to each of his target audiences. He uses a point-counterpoint style of writing in which his runaway street child persona speaks in the odd chapters through Chapter 11 and his trying-to-be-a-responsible-adult-and-therapist persona speaks from the even chapters plus Chapter 13. 

The concept is a natural progression from Cecil’s self-imposed exile to the streets of Seattle beginning as a frequent runaway at the age of 11 and solidifying into a 6-foot 3-inch 13-year-old playing at being an adult, clad in biker jacket, jeans, biker boots and sunglasses on Skid Row. 

The dialog between the troubled boy and the uncertain man propels the reader through numerous lessons of life that apply to nearly everyone. 

“I felt I had nothing to offer anyone, so I was extremely self-destructive,” Cecil told the Journal. “I have used that to help people the last 35 years, people who have similar kinds of issues.” 

Cecil’s book is described as a page-turner by readers in Tokyo, New York and the open spaces of Montana, and it is. The self-published book is 150 pages long delivers its messages in a forthright and easy-to-understand way and ends with the promise of a sequel. 

“Wisdom from the Streets” is available at Amazon.com, CDBaby, and ITunes. For a signed copy, people can visit wisdomfromthestreets.com.  

Alan Sorenson, Blaine County Journal 

Click here to read the review from  The Experience, the magazine of Warner Pacific College.

Sneak Peek

» 1. Downtown

On the streets, I lived a life of fantasy. I was an adult, not a troubled young teenager who didn’t want to go home. On the streets, I had no responsibility, no studies or homework, no authority figures to tell me what to do, or not do. On the streets, I could escape it all. On the streets, I didn’t have any fear of physical abuse, rejection, or alienation. On the streets, I became somebody else—somebody who didn’t have any problems, somebody who didn’t have any pain.

» 2. Somewhere Over the Rainbow

But, all the way through my college studies and experiences, I was driven by a fear of failure. Underneath the facade that I showed to others, I had a dark secret, a secret that I didn’t want anyone to know—I was still a failure in my heart.

» 3. The Good Life

My whole world came crashing down around me. The stability of our home and everything I was and ever wanted to be were wrapped up in my dad, and now he was gone. How could it be possible that our happy, stable family could be so devastated by my fine, respected father?

» 4. My Way

All the training in the world can’t prepare the parent for the answers to daily life questions when raising children. The question is not if we know the answer; the question is if we are going to admit to the child that we don’t know.

» 5. Runaway

I was a thirteen-year-old boy imprisoned in a man’s body, but although my body may have looked like an adult’s, my mind was always in conflict. No matter how hard I tried to forget my age, I often felt caught between the kid I was and the adult I was pretending to be.

» 6. Gotta Serve Somebody

I have most certainly failed … but it is this failure that has driven my desire to change. In fact, it is my failures that have become my greatest asset in my search for wisdom that may offer direction to those who have lost their way.

» 7. On the Road Again

The rest of the night is blank in my mind. I had just turned fourteen and was in a state of shock, but like everything else in my life, I tried to hide it.

Testimonials

This was an incredible book.
I was a street kid with a mental disorder that was undiagnosed. I live right here in Havre and am currently in therapy for PTSD from my childhood. I can totally relate to “hiding IT” and “Faking IT” that when I was initially sent to the hospital I felt like I had totally broke apart. I would really like to know the rest of the story. Obviously something worked in your life.
Kacie Kelsey

I was a foster child in high school, and I know something of not  belonging, although I was so terrified of losing my foster home I did  everything they told me to do! So I can relate very personally of 
much of what you write.
Lynn Goodman-Strauss

I did enjoy your book.  I give you credit for overcoming a tough adolescence and becoming a success, productive member of society.  I  suspect your patients really appreciate your “wisdom” and insight.  I must say my childhood was quite uneventful and I am grateful.  

Of course as a kid I thought I was so deprived.  I certainly appreciated how you relate to your children, what a gift for them to have a father they can talk to about anything, who does not hide the chapters in your life that made you.  That is the part I relate to with you.  

I am certainly no “mother of the year candidate” but I think my children know I love them with all my heart and would do anything I could for them.  I am proud of the moments they have shared their deep, dark secrets or failed and called on Mom to pick them up.   I never would tell my parents those things.  

You and I share the same goal for our children….select your destiny, follow your desires and persevere.  I do not want to pick my children’s career I just hope to help them see many opportunities and pick the one they can live with for years to come.  

Best of all, you hit the nail on the head with relationships, when I quit waiting for people to live up to my expectations my life was a lot less complicated.  I did get rid of a few folks and I am better for it and they are most likely better off without me.  

I now recognize the true gifts of my friends and family.  And “I own my stuff”, I can tell you exactly what qualities I suck at, I can also tell you my strengths.  I still need to work on guilt and forgiveness but hey I am Catholic, I expect these as my burdens.

Thank you for sharing your book with me.  
Sincerely, 
Theresa Vonada, PA-C, MPAS 
Orthopedic Physician Assistant 
Fort Harrison, MT

The best book I have read in a long time!! I began reading this book one night, and was immediately engrossed. The life of the author is of course very different from mine, yet some of our thought processes are amazingly similar. I laughed and cried with the book, and learned about my own life. When I finished reading it, I actually started it all over again! This is a book filled with the struggles of one's life, laughter, self discovery and love that everyone can relate to, and learn so much from. I highly recommend it!
Kaori Fujii
New York

Excellent book.  This book offers a very candid story of the life of Dr. Cecil.  It is rare for the patient to look inside and see the raw pictures of life that mold a great counselor/therapist. I would give this book to anyone in therapy.
Love My Library "Book Collector"
Montana

Loved this book - one of the best parenting books I've ever read.  I met the author at Chico Hot Springs In Pray, Mt. one night after dinner and bought his book. I started reading that night and couldn't stop until I finished! This really is an amazing story and fun to read! Wisdom did indeed come to the author with his life experiences "on the street"! . . . . 
Norma Buchanan
Billings, Montana