âWhat is the bravest thing youâve ever said?â asked the boy. âHelpâ said the horse. âWhen have you been at your strongest?â Asked the boy âWhen I have dared to show my weaknessâ
The Boy, the Mole the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
 I used to belief courage was about doing things that involved incredible risk:  Running into burning buildings; putting oneself into the line of fire; more recently caring for those with contagious diseases. Â
These are indeed acts of courage.
What I have learned to appreciate though, is a quieter more invisible form of courage.  Itâs the force that motivates us to speak when itâs easier to remain silent.  To stand up and be seen when we can blend in or remain invisible.  To ask for help when in many ways itâs less effort to simply carry on.
Asking for help may be one of the hardest and most courageous things we can do.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
The wonderful thing about starting a New Year is that itâs a fresh start. Â
This is the time of year when we reflect on whoâve weâve been this past year, and who we want to be in the year ahead.  The ritual of making New Yearâs resolutions is a cultural tradition that normalizes the act of publically declaring our intention to change- identifying the ways in which we hope to grow, and asking those around us to support us.Â
Implicit in this is the notion that change is more likely to occur when we donât do it alone
The trick is starting small and doing it in good company.  Together, weâve got this.
Consider making us part of your change. Give us a call to see which programs might be best for you. Thereâs always room for one more.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
Every Christmas Day I know two things will be true:
I will likely eat chocolate for breakfast
Iâll spend time connecting with people I love.
This year, although Iâm fairly certain a Toblerone bar will make its way into my stocking, I also know the way Iâll connect with others will look different. With some people, Iâll connect with by phone, others by computer. Â
The largest community, though, Iâll hold in my thoughts.Â
When people are thinking about us, we often feel it.  Even when we may feel alone, our community is still there.  The connection is simply quieter⊠but not forgotten.
Know that each and every one of you are in our thoughts. Â
Wishing you a Happy Holiday Season and looking forward to connecting in the New Year.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
Have you ever noticed the expression on peopleâs faces when theyâre riding the subway? Itâs a specific look: slack face, eyes downcast staring intently at an imaginary object on the floor. Some people wear ear buds, some read their digital novels, others close their eyes and escape to their thoughts to pass the time. Thereâs something about being in transit thatâs uncomfortable. Weâre willing to endure it, because it doesn’t last and it’s taking us somewhere we want to be. Like an ill-fitting coat, weâll put up with it temporarily because we know that, in a short time, weâll be able to take it off and be somewhere better.
If youâre feeling a bit uncomfortable with the spot youâre in, know that it’s normal. It can feel like a long dark tunnel, where youâre impatiently waiting to get to your destination. Itâs good to remind ourselves that any good trip has periods of discomfort.  Itâs the nature of transit.  Donât let it scare you.  Itâs worth the journey. Â
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
These are complicated times, and weâre all facing increased levels of uncertainty. Background stress is much higher than usual and it may be harder to unwind at the end of the day. Here are three quick tips to help keep you right side up:
Do less
Instead of opting for a complete home renovation, try doing a jigsaw puzzle while listening to your favorite music. Take joy in simple things: like the satisfaction of a perfectly chopped pile of wood, or teaching your dog a new trick. âLess is moreâ is the new mantra as we work to keep ourselves in balance.
Just say ânoâ to social overload
Factor this increased stress load into your decision making when deciding how much to take on. This is a time for increased boundary setting. Do you really want a three hour zoom family reunion following a week overloaded with on line meetings? Consider dropping in for just a brief time or opting instead for simple in-person social gatherings like coffee with a friend. Get comfortable thanking people for invitations, but letting them know you are focussing on self-care and re-charging during down time.
Limit screen time.
 If your sleep is disrupted, itâs a sign that youâre brain isnât getting the relax time it needs.  Zoom gatherings and online meetings are more mentally fatiguing than seeing people in person.  Try picking a completely junky novel to browse through before sleeping.  Enjoy a long soak in the tub or flip through your latest car magazine.  Consider having technology free weekends, and please, take off your watch that sends emails to you 24/7.  Your central nervous system will thank you.  If you are thinking of making changes on a larger scale, consider joining our Healthy Living program starting in November.  Youâll have a chance to reflect on what is most important to you, ensuring the life youâre living is the one you want.Â
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
âDonât look back, stay in the present,â people may tell you, urging you not to dwell on the difficult times.Â
YetâŠlike trickles of rain finding their way through creases in a rock, our minds revisit old scenes and emotions, replaying them in an endless loop that interrupts sleep.
It may feel like youâre haunted, having these old stories replay over and over in your head. In reality, itâs our brainâs way of pointing is to the things we need to examine in order to recover.
âYou never know where youâre going unless you know where youâve been.â A wise man said to me recently.  Besides the fact thatâs itâs a great lead line for a country Western song, itâs also true.  Our brains know that, in order to heal, they need to repeatedly return to the site of injury, working to make sense of what happened.  The problem is, when we do it alone, we tend to view our past the same way, over and over.   Knowing where youâve been helps navigate the way forward.  Doing so in good company provides a fresh lens through which to view it.
Join the Landing Strong on-line experience.  Call now to register for programs starting in November and January. Weâll help you find your way.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
