Last week, I had the privilege of co-facilitating a women’s retreat: a week defined by courage, connection, and a collective willingness to step into truth. As the days unfolded, two powerful phrases emerged from the group, each capturing the heart of our work together.

The first was “Release and Peace.” It came from a conversation about what it really means to heal: the brave act of turning toward the hard stuff rather than away from it. Too often, we carry our struggles quietly, believing that if we push them down far enough, we can move on. But healing rarely works that way. It asks us to name the weight we’ve been carrying, then slowly, gently, let it go. Release is the doorway; peace is what waits on the other side.

The second phrase, and the one that stayed with me long after the retreat ended, came after a participant shared something deeply vulnerable. She stood tall, looked around the room, and with a mix of pride and humour declared, “Deploy the hugs!” Instantly, the group rose to meet her, not out of sympathy, but solidarity.

That moment captured the essence of community healing: when we bring the hidden parts of ourselves into the light, shame loses its grip. Secrecy isolates. Sharing reconnects. And sometimes, what we need most is not a solution, but a circle of people ready to stand with us, arms open, hearts open, reminding us that we don’t have to carry anything alone.

Release. Peace. And yes…deploy the hugs.

Warmly,

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

Some news stories stop us in our tracks, reminding us of the quiet heroism that often goes unseen. This week, reports of the devastating apartment complex fire in Hong Kong have done just that. With at least 94 lives lost and more than 70 injured, including 11 firefighters, the scale of the tragedy is almost impossible to comprehend. Families are grieving, communities are shaken, and many are still waiting for word about loved ones.

When events like this reach us from across the globe, they also shine a light on the people closer to home who stand ready to protect us. In Nova Scotia, the vast majority of our province is safeguarded not by full-time professionals, but by volunteer firefighters: neighbours, friends, and community members who drop everything when the call comes in. They leave the comfort of their homes so that others might stay safe in theirs.

Firefighters everywhere share this same commitment: a willingness to step toward danger so that others may step away. It is a level of courage and selflessness that is easy to overlook until tragedy reminds us just how essential it truly is.

Today, we pause to think of those in Hong Kong who are grieving, those who are injured, and those who continue searching for survivors. We also extend appreciation to the good people here at home who serve with humility and heart. Their actions reflect something core to who we are as a province: when one of us is in need, others rise.

In honouring them, we honour the best of ourselves.

Warmly,

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

As we enter the colder months, many of us notice that the journey we’re on feels a bit longer and heavier than expected. If that’s true for you, take heart, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Healing rarely follows a straight line. It asks of us patience, self-compassion, and a willingness to care for ourselves even when motivation feels scarce.

With the holiday season approaching, and winter right behind it, it’s easy to slip into hibernation mode. Snacks, blankets, and Netflix have a way of calling our names this time of year. Although rest is important, too much withdrawal can leave us feeling sluggish or disconnected. This year, instead of settling into the long winter, we invite you to consider stepping into something new.

Four members of our Landing Strong community are currently training to hike Mount Kilimanjaro next March. Their journey is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we set intentional goals and lean on one another for support. You don’t need to travel across the world to be part of their team. You can join them virtually through our online training program, becoming part of a larger community moving toward health together.

Now is an ideal time to reflect on what matters most for your physical wellbeing. Attached is a goal-setting form you may find helpful as you take the first steps (click here). Give yourself a few quiet moments to consider what you want for your body, your energy, and your health in the months ahead.

Remember, training begins from exactly where you are today.

If you have questions about the virtual training or goal setting, please reach out to Gill Ring, our communications manager, and she can support you at gring@landingstrong.com. 

One small, honest step is enough to start the journey.

Warmly,

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

Last night as I was leaving the office, I was drawn to a surprising, uplifting sound coming from a nearby tree. Curious, I approached slowly, realizing that the tree was alive with movement and birdsong.  Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of starlings gathered together, their voices blending into a chorus that filled the evening air (listen here).

I stood for a long moment, mesmerized. How did they all know to gather here, in this one spot? Was it the guidance of a single leader, or something deeper—an instinctive wisdom, written into their very DNA? These birds are about to embark on their long journey south, facing the uncertainty and challenge of winter. Yet they do not go alone. They sing together, hang together, train together, and ultimately fly together.

There’s something profoundly reassuring in this idea. As humans, we too face seasons of hardship and transition. While our instincts may tell us to withdraw when life gets difficult, healing requires community. Like those birds, we are stronger when we connect; when we lend our voices to a shared song of support and understanding.

At Landing Strong, we believe that recovery isn’t a solitary flight. It’s something we do together; encouraging, guiding, and lifting one another as we move toward brighter days ahead.

Because sometimes, the surest way to face the winter is side by side.

Warmly,

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

This week, I am reminded of the importance of community. During our Surviving to Thriving program, my colleague and fellow clinician, Charisma Grace, shared that she has been deeply mindful of her family in Jamaica. While her loved ones thankfully weathered the recent hurricane unscathed, they are profoundly affected by the devastation in their community and country. Even across the ocean here in Canada, Charisma feels the weight of her home country’s experience; a powerful reminder that our sense of belonging and care extends far beyond borders.

In moments like these, we are called to pull together, recognizing that true resilience depends on our ability to operate as a world community, not as isolated nations or individuals. When one community suffers, we all feel the ripple. When one rises, we are all lifted.

This message was beautifully echoed in a newsletter I received this week from Makers Studio in Windsor, Nov Scotia. Their work highlights the strength that grows from creativity, collaboration, and shared purpose; evidence that community begins at home, in the ways we show up for one another each day.

For healthy countries and a healthy planet, we must first build connected communities right where we live. Thank you for being part of ours. Thank you for noticing, asking, and caring about those around you.

Together, we stand strong.

Warmly,

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

This week, I’m in Debert offering a five-day Veteran’s program. Each morning in the six am darkness, I lace up my boots, sling on my backpack, and head out for a practice hike. One local warned me to watch for coyotes. I laughed it off until the next morning, when the beam of my headlamp caught the fleeting form of a coyote skirting around the side of a building.

For a moment, I wondered if I should stop walking in the mornings. The thought came quickly, followed by another: how often does fear of the unknown stop us from moving forward?

It’s easy to let fear grow large in our imagination. Perhaps there are more coyotes out there. Perhaps they’re waiting just beyond the edge of the light. But courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s moving forward, even when we feel it. So, I adjusted my pack, imagined an offensive stance, and kept going.

No encounters today. Truth be told, the coyote I saw yesterday looked more afraid of me than I was of it.

Tackling trauma can be a lot like meeting coyotes on a dark road. Our fears, real or imagined, can keep us locked away, isolated and alone. But when we walk together, shining light on what scares us, we find safety in connection and strength in numbers. Sometimes, just stepping forward is enough to remind us: we’re not alone in the dark.

Warmly,

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