 Editor's Comments
Another Lesson for the Recovering Perfectionist
While I may call myself a recovering perfectionist, I still try to put more on my plate than I have time to finish, a common trait of practicing perfectionists.
Therefore, I hereby publicly declare that if anyone hears me saying I will do more than I can reasonably be expected to do in the time I say I will do it, I hereby give him or her permission to point that out to me. I also declare that I will do my best to stop apologizing for not completing projects on time when the target date is irrationally short.
The problem I get myself into is that while I genuinely enjoy writing and creating features for Support4Change and Childhood Affirmations, the perfectionist part of me says that readers will be terribly disappointed if I don't continually provide fresh content, almost as though they are sitting around doing nothing until they receive the next Support4Change Newsletter. The nonperfectionist part of me knows that's rubbish.
When I said that I would send a newsletter approximately every month, I had every intention of doing that. But it's been impossible with all the things I've had to do since the last newsletter on Nov. 30, 2007. These include:
(1) our trip to Egypt, Africa, and Washington, DC;
(2) the completion of my second book, Ask Yourself Questions and Change Your Life;
(3) the finishing of Getting Through the Gate to Change animation;
(4) the recording and production of the Words of Encouragement Everyone Needs CD;
(5) trying to write more frequently for the blog, which only adds more pressure; and
(6) managing three websites.
Of course, in addition to these "work" projects (which don't seem like work because I enjoy them so much), there is the need for exercise, friends, relaxation, and creating space (which is something perfectionists have trouble carving out for themselves). Consequently, except for taking time to send a brief e-mail to subscribers last month about numbers 2, 3, and 4 above, this more complete newsletter has needed to be put on the back burner.
I tell you all this because from now on I plan to put out a newsletter like this every four to six weeks (rather than once a month). But even if I don't get it done that often, I want you to know that I'll get to it as soon as the recovering perfectionist in me says it's time.
However, once-in-awhile I intend to send a brief e-mail telling you of additions to features such as the Tax-and-Spend Game categories. That would be do-able.
Arlene Harder, MFT, Founder and Editor of Support4Change
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Counting Blessings for Half an Hour
Carole O'Malley Gaunt describes the effect that silence has on the whole family. In this excerpt from her book she shows how friends, co-workers and community can possibly save the life of the abuser, and the life of the family as well.
READ a 
It will only take five minutes to watch an animation, 
