Just in time for the wonderful but sometimes stressful Thanksgiving holidays, I want to offer you a gift - a summary of 17 things I have found to be very helpful - critical even - in my own healing process over the years. The 12 Ingredients and 5 Rules are a combination of practices I have built for myself to sustain and further my recovery work. And if you have others that work well for you, I would love to hear about them!

Click HERE to read this month's Feature Editorial

With much love and holiday blessings,
Shannon

+++

Question of the Month?.
I have attempted to answer many common questions I receive each month through the Feature Editorial Above - please feel free to read through the article and send any questions or thoughts it brings up for you to me c/o .

+++

Contemplation of the month/Recommended by Shannon?.
I recently attended a support group meeting for anorexics and bulimics. We were discussing the impact the holidays have - positive and not so positive - on eating disordered behaviors. A wonderful handout was passed around, courtesy of the Center for Change, called 'Twelve Ideas to Help People with Eating Disorders Negotiate the Holidays'. I'd like to share it with you now in hopes it can inspire contemplation of how to use these twelve ideas to add more joy and peace to your holiday season: http://centerforchange.com/new/articles/77

After you read through all twelve ideas, pick one or two that especially stand out for you, and journal about how you can implement those ideas during the holidays. Also consider what kind of extra support might be helpful for you to ease the mealtime stress holiday eating often causes, and make a plan of action to seek out and ask for the support you need, whether it be attending an extra support group session, scheduling an extra meeting with your counselor, psychiatrist or dietician, or simply spending some time each day looking yourself in the mirror and repeating affirming statements of how you wish to experience the holiday celebrations. Do what it takes to take care of YOU during this time - remember that you are worth it!

+++

Good News Community Updates/Contacting Shannon?.
Welcome! Thanks to several new Eating Disorders Open House events conducted by Key to Life in October and November, we are thrilled to welcome many newcomers to the Good News community! Please know we are so glad to have you, and feel free to at any time for support and assistance in any recovery-related issue you may have.

Hosting a Key to Life or Behind This Mask: Eating Disorders Open House event in your area: From time to time we receive inquiries about how to bring Key to Life, and Shannon, to your area. Contact Key to Life at for more details, or us with questions at any time.

Questions, Stories & Ideas! Do you have a question, story or idea you would like to see featured in a future edition of Good News? We welcome your questions, stories and ideas for possible future publication. Follow this link to submit: https://key-to-life.com/ask.html (all correspondence will be kept in strict confidence and will be read by Shannon personally).

+++

Until We Meet Again?.
Thanksgiving is almost upon us - for some of you, thanks to family commitments and holiday travels, it may have already passed by the time you open and read Good News this month. But the season of Thanksgiving, of remembering that as long as we're breathing we still have hope, of reminding ourselves continually that SUCCESS = NOT GIVING UP, of seeking to serve others even as we continue to seek help ourselves, of connecting to the endless cycle of love that is available to us at each moment, can live on all year long if we choose to let it.

Many you find, even in the midst of your challenges and trials, at least one thing each day to feel grateful for. May you always show up for your life each day with all the courage and perseverance and HOPE you can muster. May you above all remember that where there is your WILL to find and follow it, there is ALWAYS a way! If you can dream it, you can live it, and you WILL find it. Always remember that, and remember that I believe in you!

With love and continued heartfelt respect for your courage in choosing to walk this path with me,

Shannon

To Submit a Question or Request for Good News  

To read past issues of Good News

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.