Houston, we have a problem

Houston, we have a problem

by | Aug 2, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Forgiveness, Friday Inspiration, Mindfulness, Resilience, Wisdom

Houston, we have a problem.

I have a problem. It’s a Canada Goose problem.

Don’t get me wrong, I love our iconic Canadian feathered friends, but I don’t love their poop.

Despite my best efforts, the lawn at our lake house is covered with their dark tarry mess. I bought an owl, designed to scare them away. It seems this plan backfired. This owl soon became their best friend. I come home from work only to find the geese nestled lovingly beside her, their numbers growing with each passing day.

Many people are hesitant to join our programs, thinking they may, like the owl, scare others off. Perhaps there’s a fear of not fitting in. Newcomers to Landing Strong frequently report how quickly they felt at ease and settled into our group programs.

Once you arrive, you too may quickly learn that birds of a feather, flock together. We may look different, but underneath it all, our shared experiences unite us.

We’re currently enrolling for our Identity & Transition program, as well as our brand new Community Connection program.

As always, our monthly Maintaining Health series is open to all members of our community.

Warm thoughts,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong

Slow down in order to speed up

Slow down in order to speed up

by | Jul 26, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Friday Inspiration, Mindfulness, Resilience

Slow down in order to speed up

When I stand in line at the ice cream parlor, I order a single scoop, but I’m secretly hoping the server will be generous with portions. I understand that if they rush in serving the outcome won’t be as satisfying.

The principle of being prepared to wait for anything worthwhile extends beyond ice cream. It also applies to recovery from injury. Recovery isn’t always as quick as one might hope.

I was speaking with a veteran recently, who reminded me of the principles of close-quarter combat. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

In any tactical training, we know it’s important to take time to settle and focus before forging ahead. There’s a period of stillness required in order to achieve maximum gains. The bottom line is we often have to slow down in order to speed up.

What habits or practices help you pause and appreciate your inner calm?

It’s a beautiful time of year, with opportunities abound.

Warm thoughts,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong

Bridging the gap to community

Bridging the gap to community

by | Jul 19, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Challenge, Community, Growth, Mindfulness

Bridging the gap to community

It’s not always easy knowing how to fit in. If a time comes when we must step away from work, it can be hard knowing what to do next. Many people who are injured cope by staying at home. The problem is, the longer we isolate, the harder it can become to reintegrate into civilian life. Venturing out into the community might feel incredibly difficult.

An important part of any transition is building an identity for ourselves separate from the uniform. We are very excited about the launch of a new program series called Community Connection. This program focuses on bridging the gap between our old identity and the new one which we are creating for ourselves.

Every two weeks we’ll have a different activity planned. It’s an opportunity for light-hearted, good old-fashioned fun and connection. It’s open to all members of our Landing Strong community. To kick off the series, we are hosting a special event, extending an invitation to family & friends.

Come join us as we share laughs and camaraderie at OnTree Adventure Park. We will cover all costs. There are both beginner and advanced courses to ensure everyone can participate at a level they find comfortable. Some may choose just to cheer, and that’s fine as well.

Spoiler alert: This is just one of many great events planned! Keep an eye out for upcoming Community Connection days, as we explore activities such as: fly-fishing, wreath-making, bowling, a meditative nature walk, water-color card making, and visiting local coffee shops just to name a few. Feel free to sign up for one, or several of these half-day group programs.

If you have ideas of activities to explore please drop us a line.

We hope you will join us!

Warm thoughts,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong

Looking for the good stuff

Looking for the good stuff

by | Jul 12, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Friday Inspiration, Gratitude, joy, Mindfulness

Looking for the good stuff

My house is sagging. Literally.

This last weekend while the roof was being replaced, torrents of rain found their way gleefully down through the ceilings and walls of the century-old house. We returned from the cottage on Sunday night only to realize that our home was far from habitable.

It’s been a slog sorting things out. Luckily the team from System Care is tending to the cleanup, dehumidifying, sealing, and inflating our house like a hot-air balloon.

It is at times like this that life can feel a little bit overwhelming.

I was shopping for groceries last night and purchased some Bok choy to add to an Asian stir-fry I had planned for dinner. My strategy was to overcompensate in nutrition which we lacked in physical comfort this week. Of course, I may have thrown in a couple of pieces of double chocolate fudge cake for dessert.
Here in lies the yin and yang of the universe.

Sitting at the lake house last evening, enjoying the pastel cloud reflections on the still water, I couldn’t possibly have enjoyed my cake more. For at least that moment, all seemed well in the world.

When we have those hard weeks, and things feel like an uphill battle, it’s important to build in small moments of joy. In your journey of recovery please take the time to notice the good stuff. Even if it’s something as small as enjoying a good piece of cake.

Warm thoughts,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong

Should she stay or should she go?

Should she stay or should she go?

by | Jun 28, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Change, Courage, Growth, Recovery

Should she stay or should she go? 

She looks so innocent sitting in the corner of my office. My little porcelain sparrow. Many a day I’ve glanced idly at her while deep in thought. A simple décor item that brings me joy. In the past week, three people have told me I must get rid of her. How has she offended them I wonder? She’s just been sitting there so quietly, minding her own business. I’m informed that in a Netflix series entitled ‘Dead to Me’, my little feathered friend served as a murder weapon. Even looking at her triggers some of my clients.

A couple of questions come to mind: do I remove her, and therefore eliminate the offending associations? Or do I keep her, allowing my clients to realize that her presence is benign and that not all sparrows are created equal?

These questions form the basis of PTSD. It is an injury of isolation and avoidance. We often believe that by eliminating or reducing exposure to triggering stimuli, we can keep ourselves safe. In truth, this just keeps us injured. Only by allowing ourselves to experience triggers without the associated negative consequences can we recover.

So the bottom line is…she’s staying!

Warm thoughts,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong

It’s a good thing she’s cute

It’s a good thing she’s cute

by | Jun 21, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Caregivers, Challenge, Forgiveness

It’s a good thing she’s cute

Seven weeks ago we got a new puppy; a Pomsky – part Pomeranian, part Husky. Kira is a fluffy ball of happiness, mischievousness and energy. Her favorite pastimes are stealing and hiding our socks and pulling astonishing escape-artist maneuvers. Our fitness levels are rapidly improving as we do laps chasing her around the yard.

Although Kira is much smaller than her Husky ancestors, her body remembers the joy of running as though she’s pulling a dog sled. In true Husky fashion, she likes to hold lengthy conversations with us regarding her needs and opinions and does so compellingly. Needless to say, she’s the only dog allowed to sleep in our bed. Kira’s identity runs deep. Even three generations of breeding doesn’t change who she is.

If you are injured, you may think that a part of you is lost or gone forever. In truth, who you are at your core, never really changes. You may not have the same physique you had in your 20’s, but your desire to be of service is likely still strong. The dedication, determination, and values that brought you to your work continue to serve as guiding principles in your life.

Time does change us. This can be a good thing. If we better learned to recognize our strengths, it might be easier to embrace changes in our lives rather than resisting them.

Like our furry little ball of fluff, good things can come in unexpected packaging.

Warm thoughts,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong