Hello, I am suffering from severe ptsd, anxiety and depression and am feeling stuck. I need to do something but don’t know what. Are you able to help?
There it is. A call from the universe. Someone who, after years of contemplation, manages to muster the courage to reach out. These are the spectacular moments of bravery that inspire me.
I imagine a solitary soul, standing on a cliff shouting to the universe:
Hello, is anybody out there? Do you hear me? Do you see I am suffering and that Iâm alone?
Weâre here. I call back. We canât see you but we hear you. Where are you? Come join us. Youâd be welcome and thereâs room.
January may be a month of cold, but it warms my heart to meet new members and welcome them to our community.
New programs are starting next week. Virtual and in person. Itâs not to late it youâre interested. Just drop us a line or give us a call. It just takes a few moments of courage.
Warm thoughts,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
Today marks a significant occasion as Brittney Griner, two-time Olympic gold medalist in Womenâs basketball, was released from custody after nine months of detention in Russia. CNN analyst Brandon Tensley states:
Griner, a Black queer woman isnât the only American to be detained in Russia. But her predicament stands out for how it has directed attention not only to the fact that US society undervalues professional womenâs basketball, but also the ways LGBTQ people in the US and Russia are differently marginalized.
Griner had the courage to stand up and be seen in a country that was intolerant of gender diversity. And she paid a price. A similar theme of intolerance arose recently in World Cup Soccer, serving to increase global awareness of this important issue.
For those military members and first responders who have been injured in service, a stigma exists within many institutional cultures regarding injury, particularly if the wounds are invisible. Members of minority groups within the military and first responder communities often face additional challenges in that they are doubly marginalized due to race and gender. It may seem easier to disappear.
Although we still have a long way to go, itâs good news that increasing numbers of people are speaking up and being seen and recognized. A member of our community has done so recently in a big way and finally received a well-deserved promotion. Well done!
Standing united in the desire for everyone to be seen and recognized with respect and inclusion.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
p.s. Keep in mind group enrollment for a wide range of programs starting in the New Year is happening now. If we get a few more people, weâll be offering an online Emotions programme in addition to our in-person programs. Please feel free to give Julie a call or drop us a line if youâd like to sign up for any of our programs.
This Halloween, I was scheduled to attend a lunch time meeting at Kingâs-Edgehill School. Traditionally, the school makes a very big deal of HalloweenâŠEVERYONE dresses up. Wanting to be part of the fun, I decided to wear a costume. Unfortunately, what I didnât know was that the school had their dress up day the previous week.
Imagine my dismay when I found myself in full Star Trek costume surrounded by a sea of students in uniforms.
I too was in uniform, only it was from wrong planet.
Somehow, this wasnât the way I imagined this would play out.
The incidental bonus to the day is that I realized everyone I encountered was eager to join the fun. On seeing my costume, Lezlee and Jen, our Office Admin staff, ran out to Dollarama to get fun costumes and a treat bowl. Everyone smiled when greeted by a witch and a cat in the reception. Clients greeted me in the lobby with the traditional Klingon hand signals and greetings.
As the day progressed, I forgot that I was in costume, but the smiles and jokes from others reminded me that we all enjoy an excuse to laugh together.
When people feel joyful, they break into spontaneous play.
Small acts of fun truly do spark joy.
Maybe thatâs the take-away from my day. Live long, laugh and prosper
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
How do you define resilience? Many might think of a titanium vest that deflects bullets or adversity: a protective shell that protects from harm.
Recently, I have come to understand resiliency as something softer, sweeter.
Itâs the ability to work through emotions rather than shutting them down.
To be able to slow down time when the world around us is speeding up.
Itâs about making space to really talk and listen to the people who are important to us, asking for what we need and learning to be emotionally present without judgement.
The work of resiliency happens behind close doors, in sharing circles.
Injured Veterans and First Responders often complain that they are too quick to experience sadness. They view it as evidence of injury since they used to be able to âturn their emotions off.â Me, I view it as a sign of recovery. Emotional availability is resiliency starting to take shape.
A wise First Responder recently shared a Thomas Edison quote with me that captures the notion of resiliency quite succinctly: Most people miss opportunity and look over it because they don’t recognize it looks like overalls and hard work.
Together, we âll strap on our coveralls and not be afraid to stir up some dust. Ultimately thatâs what allows clarity.
But itâs not all about hard work. We also need to have fun. Weâre excited to announce the launch of our new program Date Night. Itâs a chance to reconnect with the fun, playful side of yourself and enjoy a stress-free evening with a close friend or partner. Join us for an evening of creativity, conversation and connection. The first Date Night starts on Thursday, October 13th from 6-9 pm. Thanks to the support of Employment and Social Development Canada, there is no fee for this program. Light refreshments are provided.
We are also registering participants for our second round of Creating Confidence Clarifying Strengths, scheduled to start November 1, 2022. This feel-good program is receiving rave reviews and has no fee thanks to the generous funding of ACOA.
Thereâs an old shack in the bottom of the garden. Dilapidated and broken. Perhaps you know it?Â
Weâll call it the shame shed.  A place where itâs oh so easy to go. Iâve spent many a rainy Saturday afternoon there. It beacons, invitingâŠÂ
It has no real use, except to keep us trapped in a Groundhog Day of regret.  Â
I invite you to dismantle it.  Â
Let us help you take out old habits to make way for the new. View the world through a different perspective. Â
Fall is a great time to sow the seeds of change. Take a peek at the programs we have lined up. We invite you to plan ahead by giving us a call and/or dropping Julie a line to let her know which programs youâre interested in. Â
Identity and Transition: Knowing who you are once the uniform comes off (Starts September 9th)
Monthly Maintaining Health Programs: Heath boosters designed to keep you strong. New content each month (This program usually runs online, but will be held in-person on July 14th and August 18th only)Â
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
Looking back on my life, there are definitely things I wish Iâd done differently. Had I known up front the consequences of some decisions I made, I may have chosen another path.  Â
HmmmâŠwould I have chosen to work in the federal penitentiary? Thatâs a big one.Â
The thing is, I like who I am now. I understand peopleâs struggles because I too have been there.  Â
Iâm the bi-product of all decisions made to this point in time, good and bad. Iâve survived even my most human moments.Â
Maya Angelou stated:Â
    I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.Â
Instead of having regrets, letâs choose to celebrate the wisdom we gain from our experiences. Cherish our scars and the stories they tell. Â
With forgiveness, and acceptance, we rise together.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
