The gifts newcomers bring

The gifts newcomers bring

by | Sep 12, 2025 | Change, Community, Compassion, From Belinda, Gratitude, joy, Wisdom

The gifts newcomers bring

 

When I travel to Toronto to visit my father, I often take an Uber to get around the city.

Over time I’ve made it a practice to learn about the people who drive me. Experience has taught me that beneath the surface of a simple ride, there are often stories of great courage, resilience and hope.

This trip was no exception. The car that arrived was spotless and cared for with evident pride. My driver, I soon learned, was from Afghanistan. Back home he had been a Human Rights Lawyer specializing in the protection of women and children. His wife he shared, was the Executive Director of a shelter for women fleeing intimate partner violence. Together, they had built lives of service, only to leave it all behind in order to start anew in Canada with their children.

As we talked, I commented on how big an investment his car must have been, and how difficult it is for Uber drivers to make a decent wage. His response humbled me. He said he was grateful for the work, glad to be able to provide for his family, even if it meant 14 to 16-hour days.

This fall he will begin a paralegal program at a local college, supported by a student loan. His English, he admitted, isn’t yet strong enough for law school, but his dream is to one day return to his calling.

What struck me most was his gratitude. He spoke warmly of Canada of the safety, the kindness of its people, and the opportunities it offers his family.

I left the car wishing him well and deeply moved. In truth, it is we who are fortunate, our country enriched by people like him and his wife, who bring with them resilience, vision, and hope for a better future.

 

Warmly,

 

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

When freedom meets responsibility

When freedom meets responsibility

by | Aug 22, 2025 | Anxiety, Belinda's Thoughts, Communication, Compassion, Courage, Wellbeing, Wisdom

When Freedom Meets Responsibility

I’ve always found my deepest sense of calm in the woods; it’s my sanctuary. So when the recent restrictions came into effect, limiting access to forested trails, I felt a surge of frustration. It seemed unnecessary, even intrusive, as though a small but important freedom was being taken from me.

A few days ago, while walking the Blockhouse Loop I spotted a man standing over dry grass, cigarette in hand. Ashes dropped onto the tinder-dry vegetation at his feet. I felt a spike of alarm. I approached him gently, asking him to move to the paved area, pointing out the risk of fire and our shared responsibility to take extra care. He laughed, smiled, and thankfully, complied.

It was after this moment that my perspective shifted. Common sense I realized, isn’t always common. Sometimes restrictions exist because not everyone takes precautions on their own. Rather than being resentful I now hold deep respect for those tasked with maintaining safety for all.

My gratitude extends too, to the first responders working tirelessly to contain the wildfires sweeping our provinces. The few hours of smoke we inhaled last Saturday were but the faintest hint of what they endure daily.

Freedom I’ve learned isn’t only about what I want. It’s about choosing care for the greater good.

We’re currently filling two great group programs, and fall is the perfect time to join us.  We have Identity & Transition coming up on Fridays September 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17.  We also are loading up our popular Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program September 9th, 16th, 23rd, October 2nd (Thursday), 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th. (945am to noon)
Optional 3-hour retreat Nov 4th. (9 to noon)

Contact Julie to learn more and to get on the list! 902-472-2972 or info@landingstrong.com 

 

Warmly,

 

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

Rooted together

Rooted together

by | Aug 8, 2025 | Community, Compassion, Friday's Inspiration, Growth, Our Team, Support, Wisdom

Rooted together

Sometimes it can feel like there isn’t much solid ground beneath us. Life’s challenges can leave us feeling shaky and unsure of our footing. But the truth is, we’re often more grounded than we realize.

Like the trees that weather even the fiercest storms, we’re hardwired for resilience. It’s in our nature.

At Landing Strong, we chose our name intentionally. A single tree standing alone is vulnerable to the elements. But a stand of trees? Together, they shelter and protect each other, buffering against adversity. It’s the strength of connection that makes the difference.

So, ask yourself: Are you standing alone right now?

We’d love for you to join us. In fact, we’re quite literally climbing trees together! Our second annual Family Day at Ontree Adventure Park is just around the corner, followed by a shared lunch at Bent Ridge.

Come be part of the forest. Find shelter, strength, and a little adventure with us!   

Please contact Julie to sign up: info@landingstrong.com or 902-472-2972. 

 

Warmly,

 

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

We never really know what’s to come

We never really know what’s to come

by | Jul 25, 2025 | Belinda's Thoughts, Caregivers, Challenge, Compassion, Gratitude, joy, Love, Self-Care

 We never really know what’s to come

Eighteen months ago, my 92-year-old father was told he likely had between two weeks and two months to live. At the time, we braced ourselves, quietly preparing for goodbye. But here we are, another summer unfolding, and happily he’s still with us.

Life for him is much simpler now. Though he can no longer hold a paintbrush, his artist’s eye remains beautifully intact. As I take him for slow strolls through the neighbourhood in his wheelchair, he soaks in the details: the deep blue of the hydrangeas, the dappled light through the trees, the subtle shifts of colour in the sky. His gaze lingers, noticing what many of us miss in our hurry.

He smiles kindly at passersby, waves hello to strangers, and sometimes when the noise of the world becomes too much, he quietly removes his hearing aid, choosing instead the peace of his own inner world. It’s not withdrawal; it’s discernment. A gentle choice to rest in stillness.

There’s something profoundly moving in witnessing how he navigates this time, not with fear or regret, but with gratitude. His presence reminds me that while we can’t control how long we have, we can choose how we show up each day.

There is a grace in how he has accepted life on life’s terms, no resistance, no panic. Just a deep, abiding appreciation for what is, rather than what might be.

There’s a lesson in that.

We often try to predict and plan, to carve certainty out of uncertainty. But life doesn’t follow our timelines or expectations. It offers both hardship and hope in unpredictable measure.

Whether you’re in a season of grief, healing, or quiet joy, may you find space to breathe deeply and take in the moment.  None of us truly knows how much time we have, but there is beauty in the not knowing. Sometimes, the greatest gift is simply another summer.

It’s not too early to late to sign up for Community Connections Monday.  We’ll have fun with a game or two of Disc Golf.  No experience necessary.   

Please contact Julie to sign up: info@landingstrong.com or 902-472-2972. 

 

Warmly,

 

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

Beauty against the backdrop

Beauty against the backdrop

by | Jul 18, 2025 | Compassion, Growth, Recovery, Resilience, Self-Awareness

 Beauty against the backdrop

Driving the other day, I noticed a small yellow butterfly resting on the gravel shoulder of the highway. It was fragile, bright, and impossibly delicate; a splash of colour against an unforgiving backdrop.

It struck me how much more beautiful it seemed because of where it landed. Had it been on a flower, I might not have noticed it at all. But there, against the dust and roughness, it stood out.

So often in life, it’s the contrast that gives things meaning. Joy feels deeper after sorrow. Stillness is more precious when we’ve known chaos. A moment of connection can feel profound when loneliness has lingered too long.

At Landing Strong, we witness this contrast daily. People arrive carrying the weight of trauma, moral injury, or deep exhaustion. And yet, we also witness moments of laughter, insight, and hope that are breathtaking — not in spite of the hardship, but because of it.

We don’t need perfect conditions to experience beauty. In fact, it often finds us in the unlikeliest of places; in gravel moments, in quiet resilience, in small signs that life is still unfolding with purpose.

If things feel hard right now, keep an eye out for your own yellow butterfly. Beauty isn’t gone. Sometimes it just takes a little contrast for us to truly see it.

It’s not too early to sign up for our Community Connections Monday July 28th. We’ll be trying our hand at Disc Golf at Clifton Estates.  Please contact Julie to sign up: info@landingstrong.com or 902-472-2972. 


 

Warmly,

 

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

Kindness rocks

Kindness rocks

by | May 9, 2025 | Community, Compassion, Creativity, Gratitude, joy, Self-Care

Kindness rocks

I arrived at work recently and to my delight discovered the front entrance of Landing Strong sprinkled with kindness rocks. On each step and at every turn was an encouraging comment designed to uplift the day of anyone entering the building.

‘Spread your wings and fly’
‘You are enough’
‘Be happy, Be Kind, Be strong, Be you’

Handcrafted with love, someone dear to our community took the time to spread loving thoughts.

Although these are acts of kindness designed for others, I’m aware that in creating these precious gifts the artist themselves is practicing selfcare in a positive powerful way.


What we do and how we spend our time when relaxing really matters. Spring is a perfect time to reflect on our habits and patterns of behavior ensuring that we are filling our cup, rather than emptying it.

What hobbies or past times do you practice that support your health?

If you haven’t yet taken it, now is the perfect time to sign up for our Healthy Living program, our mornings are at Landing Strong and afternoons at Maker’s Studio.  Contact Julie to sign up: info@landingstrong.com or 902-472-2972. 

 

Warmly,

 

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