Team Strong supports our community

Team Strong supports our community

by | Dec 6, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Challenge, Change, Community, Courage, Growth, Our Team, Recovery

Team Strong supports our community

Monday was a powerful day as volunteers from our Landing Strong community gathered at the Windsor Food Bank (Matthew 25) to help with Christmas hamper preparations.

In true veteran/first responder form, we worked like a smoothly oiled machine with maximum efficiency. 500 bags were packed in just under two hours! Ashley the director at the food bank, marveled at the speed and productivity of the group. We left with an incredible sense of satisfaction and pride in our ability to give back to the community.

Our local food bank is an incredibly valuable resource supporting up to 600 individuals in West Hants monthly. This number represents a 20% increase over last year. Led tirelessly by a passionate volunteer team with Ashley and Tina at the helm, the folks at the food bank are working long hours to ensure no one in our community goes without.

Our Landing Strong community expressed great satisfaction at being able to do this volunteer work. Many noted that they felt unable to go out into the community individually to volunteer, but with the safety and support of their peers Team Strong was created.

How might you help? There’s a variety of ways. Feel free to contact Ashley or Tina through their Facebook page, or call 798-4313. You can also email matthew25windsor@gmail.com.

We’re going back as a group again soon. Please reach out to Jen if you’re interested in joining Team Strong. We welcome suggestions and ideas for other volunteer opportunities as a team, reach out anytime.

 

Warmly,

 

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

Connection is key-the power of community

Connection is key-the power of community

by | Nov 29, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Communication, Community, Relaxation, Resources, Wellbeing

Connection is key – the power of community

When we think of PTSD, we might envision a person hunched over, sitting alone in a dark room. Operational stress injuries can indeed be isolating when we bear the burden alone.

Only through connection with an understanding community, can we melt away the shame that keeps us immobilized.

If you have been following our social media, you’ll have seen many photos of people in active recovery. They’re full of smiles and are clearly in good company. That’s not by chance. They know something important.
They know that working in groups speeds up recovery and allows us to go further. Significant forward momentum requires knowledge, support, and community.

By working together, we will all go further. Look for the smiles…you’ll know where to find us. Trauma recovery might not look the way you imagined.

We’re loading up programs for the new year, connect soon to save your seat.

 

Warmly,

 

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

Respect for those who are injured

Respect for those who are injured

by | Nov 15, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, Gratitude, Remembrance

Respect for those who are injured

Not all injuries are visible to the naked eye.  Not all those who have served are acknowledged.

For many, the details of the things that caused harm remain hidden; threatening to eat away at us until we are but a shadow of our former selves.

Central to recovery and healing lies the value of respect. To move forward, we must live in a society that understands our injuries, free of stigma. We must be supported by systems that care and place client needs at the forefront of decision making, and equally importantly, we must find the strength to respect ourselves.

This week, my husband Joe shared the following video with me, describing a talk he gave to students at his school about respect. He explained, “At its best, respect is a kind of love… It’s a continuous process of paying attention to people. Including yourself.”

I hope that you are able to make time and space for yourselves, viewing yourselves as we see you, with the respect and compassion you so deserve.

Know that we stand in your corner.

 

 

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

Good things come to those who work

Good things come to those who work

by | Oct 11, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, Courage, Friday Inspiration, Grief

Good things come to those who wait work.

Recovery can be a slow and arduous process.
‘Will I be ready to get back to work by the end of the month?’ clients might ask hopefully.

I shake my head knowing silently that after a career of service it will likely take more than a month to turn things around.

The good news is, good things do in fact come to those who are willing to put the work in.

We see it in our community. Veterans and first responders who’ve been chipping away at their injuries are indeed emerging as new versions of themselves. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with anxiety at the thought of attending a group program, they strap on their athletic gear, rubber boots, sunhats, and hiking shoes as we climb tree tops, go fly fishing, forage for wild cranberries and complete hikes together.

Rather than trying to protect themselves by staying at home, these wise souls understand that with risk comes reward.

It is only through leaps of faith, breaths of courage and hard work that recovery starts to take shape. Every single one of the people behind the smiling faces you may have seen in recent photos, was likely at one point hesitant to leave the safety of home.

Not only are they engaging, they but they are eagerly asking when the next time is that they can bring their partners and spouses.

The work of recovery is good not just for those who are injured, but also for their families. When we look after ourselves the whole world benefits.

We are excited to be offering four great group programs in the upcoming months:

Community Connection 9-noon October 7th, 21st
Maintaining Health October 17th
Advanced Skills in Trauma Recovery
Thursdays November 7th, 14th, 28th, December 5th, 12th
Mind/Body Health & Recovery
Fridays November 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, December 5th

Call (902) 472-2972 or email Julie at info@landingstrong.com
to learn more, or sign up.


We hope to see you soon,

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

No fish…that’s ok, we got cranberries

No fish…that’s ok, we got cranberries

by | Sep 25, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Challenge, Community, Friday Inspiration, joy, Wellbeing

No fish…that’s ok, we’ve got cranberries

 

This past Monday was a magical morning as Shawn Pineo from New Scotland Fly Rods led us on a fly-fishing adventure for our Community Connection day.

On the shores of Panuke Lake with the sun beaming down on our shoulders, we tied, cast, reeled, and laughed together.

Not everyone was physically able to participate but that didn’t stop them from sharing fish stories and banter by the water’s edge.

I’d like to report that many fish were caught, but truth be told, the biggest catch of the day was cranberries. We left literally with buckets of them.

PS: Did you know that fly-fishing hip waiters allow one to lie in a field of red cranberries without fear of red stains? This is optimal for a speedy collection.

I left with my heart full and a big smile on my face. The lightness and levity of the morning went a long way to setting the tone for a wonderful week.

Sometimes the best things in life are unexpected. I’m eternally grateful to Shawn for creating such a warm welcoming environment and generously sharing his equipment with us. But I’m ridiculously pleased with the bounty of cranberries which will form the basis of my Thanksgiving cranberry sauce.

I went into the day knowing that fishing wasn’t likely my thing, but I left pleased to have taken part.

Please join us for the next Community Connection group as we take a fall walk on the Manning Nature trails, followed by a coffee outing to Gerrish and Grey. We’ll be collecting natural wilderness treasures for our upcoming wreath-making workshop which will take place two weeks later.

 

Warm thoughts,

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

Allowing your intentions to shape your world

Allowing your intentions to shape your world

by | Sep 20, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, joy

Allowing your intentions to shape your world

During a recent trip to Toronto, I spied this little book library in my brother’s neighborhood.

It caught my eye for a number of reasons. Firstly it’s a free library. I know the creator of this tiny cabinet loves books and sharing good reads. Secondly, it’s not just a book-lending library, it is an actual library. Zoom in to peek closely at the photo and you will see the intricate details inside.

This level of thought and intention filled my heart and kept me smiling the entire way home. It made Toronto feel like a friendly happy place, full of good people and good neighbors.

Is there anything you are doing to send out similar messages of laughter and light to the world around you?

 

Warmly,

 

 

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