SO, Fall is here....in theory at least. I have always been fascinated by the interplay of the seasons, and how the calendar and the temperature (in Texas at least) so rarely coincide! Nevertheless, here we are, nearly face-to-face with the stresses, shopping and celebration of the holidays....and it is time to begin to mentally prepare ourselves. It is time to begin to bolster ourselves with community, good company, and qualified support, so we can exit 2007 and enter 2008 feeling proud of how we navigated the food, the friends, the family....and, most of all, ourselves! Good News is a great state of mind to be in as October begins. So welcome, now, to another month of wonderful questions, a great article by guest columnist Lynn Gernard, and timely reminders of additional support opportunities!

And, in other news, I will be out and about touring this month. If you are in any of these areas, I would love to see you!

Oct. 23 - Trinity College - Beauty Undressed Event, sponsored by the Women & Gender Resource Action Center, 7-9pm
Hartford, CT

Oct. 25 - Frostburg State University - Beauty Undressed Event, sponsored by Student Activities, 7:30-9pm
Frostburg, MD

Oct. 31 - Tarrant County College - Beauty Undressed Event, sponsored by Student Services, 11:45am-12:45pm
Arlington, TX

Nov. 1 - College of New Jersey - Beauty Undressed Event, sponsored by the Bod Squad, 7:30pm-9:pm
Ewing, NJ

I was shopping in my all-time favorite secondhand store the other day. I was not alone in my enthusiasm – to my left, hovering near the shoe racks, I overheard a woman commenting excitedly to her friend, ‘I just love the shoes here – my feet never have a ‘fat day’!’ ......for complete article click HERE

I have committed to Shannon to write a series of articles around the 12 Steps of recovery, originally developed as part of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, and now widely used in recovery for a variety of addictive behaviors. The introduction to Steps 2 and 3 (August 2007 issue) revolved around. ....to read full Editorial click HERE

To read the new song lyrics by Lynn, click HERE
To read more about Lynn, click HERE

This was another banner month for great questions! If you do not see the answer to your question this month, please be patient and know that I will answer each question in the order it is received.

Fear of Change
Q: How do you get beyond that fear of change . ....
A: I suspect you could ask the very next person you see on the street this question, and ....to read full Q&A click HERE
Body Acceptance
Q: How do you accept your body as it is? .
A: How do you do anything you really want to do, that you don’t know how to do?...to read full Q&A click HERE
Needing Help to Recover
Q:I am a 50 year old woman, ex bulimic so far ...
A: The most important part of recovery is what you touch on in your email ....to read full Q&A click HERE
Guilt
Q: How do you deal with daily guilt from eating or not exercising as you are in the process of recovering?
A: Guilt. I used to believe that guilt was what kept the world turning around and around….to read full Q&A click HERE
Meetings
Q: Do you still hold weekly meetings?
A: I do not currently hold weekly support meetings. However, if you are ...to read full Q&A click HERE
Cutting
Q: How do you help a jr. high student when they are cutting?
A: This is probably one of my all-time favorite questions to receive...to read full Q&A click HERE

BLOG!!!
We all know that Relationships Replace Eating Disorders. So we also know that, for that reason and many more, sometimes once a month just isn't enough. Good News community members are now invited to join Shannon's new BLOG! For updates, answers to questions, insights and tips from Shannon's own recovery journey, be sure to subscribe!
AND A REMINDER: Be sure to sign up for Shannon's moderated online Eating Disorders Support Community
For any Good News community member who may not yet have heard, the ever-popular MySpace.com Behind this Mask: there is someone real online support community is back up and running! This is exciting news - the group is growing every day, and offers a truly safe, supportive haven to all who sincerely desire recovery. To join, create a free MySpace.com account, then visit the Key to Life MySpace page to send Shannon an add request.

Do you have a related question or topic, or an inspirational poem or story you would like to share with other readers in a future edition of Good News? Would you like to send a message of encouragement and support to those who contributed questions for this month's e-zine? (NOTE: all messages of support will be received and published anonymously in future editions of Good News) If you would like to submit a question and/or send a message of support please send it to Shannon c/o Good News by clicking HERE

REPRINTS: You may reprint any of the content found in Good News in your own ezine or website. Simply send an email requesting permission by clicking HERE. Please be sure to include the full Key to Life bio box at the end of any reprint, as follows:

Shannon Cutts is known as a compassionate and charismatic advocate of our right to feel good about ourselves, our bodies and our lives. Reaching out to students, youth, parents, educators, healthcare professionals, and communities, her unique and powerful Key to Life programs bring personal transformation and life fulfilment into sharp and exciting focus. As the author of Letters to a Young Anorexic: Recovering the Lost Art of Mentoring in the Age of Eating Disorders, Shannon has dedicated her life to 'bringing healthy back' into the lives of families at home and around the world. Visit www.key-to-life.com to learn more!

 

NOTE: Good News is sent by invitation and subscription only - if you have received this e-newsletter in error
or no longer wish to receive it, please hit reply and let us know! Peace.