Itâs never too late to change. You may surprise yourself.
At first you thought you were destined to walk this path alone.
Now youâre considering company.
You thought you were stuck.
But feel a calling for movement.
Know that there are other olâdogs ready to join you. Weâll navigate this one together.
Give us a call. Whether youâre starting a new group or jumping back into our Monthly Maintaining Health Program weâd love to see you. July and August Maintaining Health programs are in-person, with a visit to the Windsor Makerâs studio in the afternoon for artistic inspiration.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
Thereâs an old shack in the bottom of the garden. Dilapidated and broken. Perhaps you know it?Â
Weâll call it the shame shed.  A place where itâs oh so easy to go. Iâve spent many a rainy Saturday afternoon there. It beacons, invitingâŠÂ
It has no real use, except to keep us trapped in a Groundhog Day of regret.  Â
I invite you to dismantle it.  Â
Let us help you take out old habits to make way for the new. View the world through a different perspective. Â
Fall is a great time to sow the seeds of change. Take a peek at the programs we have lined up. We invite you to plan ahead by giving us a call and/or dropping Julie a line to let her know which programs youâre interested in. Â
Identity and Transition: Knowing who you are once the uniform comes off (Starts September 9th)
Monthly Maintaining Health Programs: Heath boosters designed to keep you strong. New content each month (This program usually runs online, but will be held in-person on July 14th and August 18th only)Â
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
Looking back on my life, there are definitely things I wish Iâd done differently. Had I known up front the consequences of some decisions I made, I may have chosen another path.  Â
HmmmâŠwould I have chosen to work in the federal penitentiary? Thatâs a big one.Â
The thing is, I like who I am now. I understand peopleâs struggles because I too have been there.  Â
Iâm the bi-product of all decisions made to this point in time, good and bad. Iâve survived even my most human moments.Â
Maya Angelou stated:Â
    I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.Â
Instead of having regrets, letâs choose to celebrate the wisdom we gain from our experiences. Cherish our scars and the stories they tell. Â
With forgiveness, and acceptance, we rise together.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
Iâve been working in the field of trauma for close to thirty years: in womenâs shelters, the federal penitentiary system, hospitals, schools and community. In all the dark spaces and all of the dark places, one universal truth Iâve come to understand is that healing and compassion are closely intertwined. Anger and shame anchor us to the past, whereas forgiveness and self-compassion pave the way forward. When we live in anger, we allow others to control the narrative of our journey. Thereâs incredible freedom in letting go.
Martin Luther King Jr. understood this when he wrote:
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Desmond Tutu states:
Forgiveness is not weak. It takes incredible courage to face and overcome powerful emotions.
Next Thursday, our Maintaining Health Program is going to explore the freedom that accompanies compassion and forgiveness.
If youâve taken a previous program, youâre welcome to join. Just drop us a line so that we know youâre coming.Â
We also still have spots left in the Navigating Next Steps Program Series, starting this Tuesday. Creating Confidence and Clarifying Strengths runs for five weeks. It is designed to build trust and confidence, identify strengths and re-affirm values that are most important.
We look forward to seeing you.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
Last week we held a celebration for veteran and first responders who have completed The Landing Strong Foundation and Work Force Reintegration Programs. We worked hard to make the event special, but I must confess I was holding my breath, not knowing how many people would come. Turns out, the day was a resounding success, with more than 40 veterans and first responders attending, many of whom brought family members.
A few highlights of the day included guests being greeted by grade six members of the 254 King’s-Edgehill School Highland Cadet Corps under the direction of Major Keith Hynes; being treated to heartfelt renditions of âYou are not aloneâ and âThis is meâ by the Kingâs-Edgehill School choir, led by Stephanie Fillman; and most importantly, the presentation of our graduates, thanked by Board Chair Chrystal Fuller and MP Kody Blois.
Before coming, many of our graduates voiced a concern that they did not feel like heroes, they were simply people who did their jobs. I pointed out that we were not celebrating the work they did in the past in their official roles (although that certainly contained many heroic moments), but rather, the ongoing heroic work they are doing now in recovery. As our celebrated guests listened to the contribution of other members of their community, it was impossible for them not to realize that they were part of a very special and unique group of highly skilled professionals who had dedicated their entire lives to the safety, health and protection of country and community. All are continuing to give, continually asking themselves the question âHow can I help?â It felt a bit like a superhero convention that we had the privilege of attending.
Veteranâs Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay, PC, MP has been a firm supporter of Landing Strong. Although he was unable to attend in person, he sent his best wishes to âour countryâs brave women and men in uniform, who have sacrificed so much so that we can live in a more peaceful world.
Regarding his recent visit to Landing Strong he added:
âI would also like to thank the group of Veterans who attended that evening for sharing their stories and experiences. All Canadians owe them a debt of gratitude for their dedicated service to our nation, and my department is committed to supporting their mental well-being.â
We are happy to celebrate our Spring Program Graduates, whether they were able to come that day or not and look forward to future community events and celebrations.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
Training and expertise canât help but shine through
Weâve just started a new Healthy Living program that involves participation in the community. Once a week, after our morning programming, a group of Landing Strong members attend the Windsor Makerâs studio to work with artists in specialized areas such as ceramics, glass fusion, painting and woodworking.
Itâs been a blast, but there have been a few surprises along the way.
The first day, our group members blew through the glass fusion workshop. What normally is completed in 2 hours took our highly specialized team of veterans and first responders 40 minutes to complete. Not to be undone, the instructor Cheryl good-naturedly upped the ante, inviting participants to make their own designs, cutting and buffing the glass in order to create beautiful large sized fusion glass art.
Weâre talking highly technical, precision work.
Instead of shrinking back, the team rose to the challenge. They quickly formed an efficient team with members working collaboratively to draw, cut and buff the 15 houses needed for their projects.
Adapt, Improvise and Overcome.
In the ceramics corner, participants applied unbelievable focus and skill in the creation and glazing of fantastic over-sized mugs.
In the painting section, our veteran artists whipped off dot mandalas with hand control precision, speed and accuracy that was humbling.
Even when relaxing, the training, skill, focus, teamwork and adaptability of our community members shone through. Most importantly, there was a lot of laughter and cheerful banter.
I am reminded of how highly skilled our population is, even following injury. I look forward to next week, and only hope I can keep up.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
One of the biggest challenges we can face following injury is determining how to best fit into our old lives. Picking up where we left off usually isnât possible. Knowing how to contribute and feel as though weâre still of use can feel confusing.
As people recover, they start a process of gently exploring meaningful ways to stay connected to the things they love, without becoming re-injured. I have had discussions with many veterans, police officers, paramedics, and firefighters regarding strategies for re-involvement that do not involve further trauma exposure. What many have found is that their knowledge of safety, procedures and training runs rich and deep. Many have decades of experience.
Instead of figuring how to reinsert oneself into an old role, it might be helpful to consider the question: âHow can I help train the next generation to practice safely and effectively.â
You possess specialized knowledge of equipment, procedures, and operation of million-dollar vehicles. This is incredibly valuable.
When youâre ready for community involvement, thereâs a place for you. Itâs just a matter figuring out the best fit. If your frontal lobe still feels off-line, no worries, with time, memory and clarity of thought will return. Procedural memories will be second nature again. You may not be wearing the same uniform, but the strengths that defined you are a constant, itâs just a matter of rediscovering them.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
There are many things about this country that Iâm proud of.  This hardly feels like a time for celebration, though, as deep penetrating sonar unearths our nations darkest secrets. Â
Today, on Canada Day, I choose to focus on the beauty and diversity of our country.  I celebrate tolerance, respect and understanding.
I celebrate compassion and education.
I celebrate the richness of the culture of our First Nations people.
I celebrate a day and time when we view one another as equals, regardless of race, gender and ability.
I envision a country where all this is possible.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
How do we make a difference when the problem feels so big?
Over the past few weeks, the very foundation of our country has rocked with the discovery of 1,323 bodies of First Nations children at various sites across Canada. Â Itâs believed that there are many more yet to be found.Â
Iâve hesitated to write about this.  Itâs incredibly important and I donât want to get it wrong.  How do we possibly come to terms with this level of atrocity?  The genocide of a generation of our First Nations children: are we glimpsing the ugliest part of humanity?Â
Iâm reminded of a discussion I had many years ago following news of the tragic shooting at Montrealâs Ăcole Polytechnique where innocent lives were taken.  During a National conference of 1000 psychologists, we sat in a room together and asked ourselves the question: How to we respond to such atrocity?  How can we prevent such horrific acts of violence from reoccurring?  There were no quick answers.  We all felt powerless.  Eventually one of the speakers stood and spoke in a tentative voice:
âI donât have the power to change the world, but I certainly can have a significant impact on my immediate circle within my community.âÂ
Others chimed in:
 âIf each of us has a voice and speaks out, we are 1000 strong in this room alone.  If we all speak to 100 people thatâs 100,000 minds that we have the power to change.  We all have an immediate circle of influence.  If we all commit to being part of the solution, demanding change, that has to have an impactâ. Â
I donât pretend to have the answers.  Nothing can make this right.  We canât go back and undo the harm that has been done.  I was taught that Canada is a mosaic woven of many different colours and fabrics.  I believe the diversity is what provides richness to our Country.Â
We donât heal from our past by looking away.  If there is to be hope for a version of Canada where all are treated with dignity and respect, we need to witness even our nations darkest periods. Â
Ignoring pain does not allow for healing.  It prolongs it.  Letâs strengthen our circles, making sure the steps forward are meaningful and lasting.
This is news that needs to be felt.  Only then can we ensure it never happens again.Â
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
There they are. Crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils, pushing their way to sunlight, oblivious of everything that has transpired during this past year.
With reassuring predictability and beauty, they remind us that hope is just around the corner.
Stay the course.
Take a moment to breathe in the fresh fragrance.
Notice the rich colours.
Like prickly bears after a long hibernation we’re eager to be roaming freely. Reconnecting with long lost family and friends. I vow to remain patient, tolerant and kind, grateful for the vaccinations that will once again return a semblance of normalcy to our lives.
Giving thanks to all those who have worked so tirelessly to keep us fed, healthy and safe.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
