Before I lay me down to rest…

Before I lay me down to rest…

by | May 24, 2024 | Balance, Belinda's Thoughts, Creativity, Friday Inspiration, joy

Before I lay me down to rest

As life zooms by, itā€™s easy to get caught up in the high-speed lane. The list of commitments grows longer, and sleepā€¦well, that sometimes eludes me.

In an effort to still my busy brain, I made a commitment to practice mindfulness each evening, before settling down for the nightā€™s rest.

My mindfulness practice is simple: it consists of drawing; even if itā€™s only for five minutes. Iā€™m pretty good at botanical drawings but have never mastered the art of sketching people. I found a good YouTube tutorial and am trying to etch out a quick line drawing of a face each evening.

Iā€™d like to say itā€™s going wellā€¦but it isnā€™t. My efforts are pretty rough-looking. Thatā€™s okay, I remind myself. These things take time.

While I draw, I utter the simple word ā€œgraceā€ to myself. Itā€™s a reminder to allow myself time to settle in, and over time, to grow. I believe that my sketched forms will start taking on a more human shape if I keep practicing.

Will you join the practice of extending grace to yourself?

 

Warm thoughts,

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

Do your actions reflect your values?

Do your actions reflect your values?

by | May 10, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Challenge, Communication, Community, Creativity

Do your actions reflect your values?

I recently made the effort to visit an old friend who is near and dear to my heart. I knew her from a previous life, and we both had intentions of staying in touch. But you know how it goesā€¦weeks turn into months which somehow turn into years. The visit was wonderful, and we picked up right where we left off. I left feeling grounded, happy and inspired.

Do you have someone in your life who has somehow made their way unintentionally into your rearview mirror? If so, I encourage you to drop them a line, reminding them what they mean to you.

Our actions do reflect our intentions. This is very much the theme of our upcoming Healthy Living program which allows an opportunity for participants to examine habits, try new skills and develop new hobbies. Mornings are spent at Landing Strong. After enjoying lunch together, we go as a group to Windsor Makerā€™s Studio for an opportunity to develop our artistic skills (e.g., pottery, woodworking, painting, drawing, glasswork).

Is the life you are leading reflective of the values and people you hold most dear?

Come get involved with usā€¦you may be surprised by how much fun you have.

Warm thoughts,

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

 

 

Do your actions reflect your values?

Do your actions reflect your values?

by | May 10, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, Creativity, Growth, Recovery

Do your actions reflect your values?Ā 

I recently made the effort to visit an old friend who is near and dear to my heart. I knew her from a previous life, and we both had intentions of staying in touch. But you know how it goesā€¦weeks turn into months which somehow turn into years. The visit was wonderful, and we picked up right where we left off. I left feeling grounded, happy and inspired.

Do you have someone in your life who has somehow made their way unintentionally into your rearview mirror? If so, I encourage you to drop them a line, reminding them what they mean to you.

Our actions do reflect our intentions. This is very much the theme of our upcoming Healthy Living program which allows an opportunity for participants to examine habits, try new skills and develop new hobbies. Mornings are spent at Landing Strong. After enjoying lunch together, we go as a group to Windsor Makerā€™s Studio for an opportunity to develop our artistic skills (e.g., pottery, woodworking, painting, drawing, glasswork).

Is the life you are leading reflective of the values and people you hold most dear?

Come get involved with usā€¦you may be surprised by how much fun you have.

Warm thoughts,

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

Express yourself

Express yourself

by | Mar 1, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Communication, Courage, Creativity

This week my husband Joe and I set off on an adventure to Tanzania in a leadership expedition with 21 high school students.

We will be doing community service, going on safari, and hopefully summiting Kilimanjaro.

One of the things I most value about travel is having an opportunity to gain perspective, and viewing our lives through a different lens.

In the Ethiopian airport, I met a woman en route to Kenya, who made me smile. Her diamond-studded glasses caught my eye, even across a crowded airport. No matter what uniform or customary dress we wear, our personalities canā€™t help but shine through.

I wonder how your personality shines. What small forms of expression do you have to allow people to see the true you?

 

Warm thoughts,

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

Finding your inner Cindy Lou Who

Finding your inner Cindy Lou Who

by | Dec 15, 2023 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, Creativity, Friday's Inspiration, joy

Finding your inner Cindy Lou Who

The snow falls in heavy wet patches on my windshield as I strain to see through the slush that is accumulating.

I grumble under my breath as I feel the wheels of my car swerve on the greasy roads.

ā€œWinter is hereā€ I sigh grumpily in a resigned manner. Arriving home, I trudge up the porch and lug my groceries onto the counter.

Iā€™ve only been inside a few minutes when squeals of delight and shrieks of laughter prompt me to stick my head back outside.

What greets me is a sight for sore eyes. On the soccer pitch in front of our house are thirty Mexican students, their first year in Canada, rolling around gleefully in the fluffy white snow. They dive tackle and hurl snowballs at one another, breathing in the excitement and electric thrill of their first ever snowfall.

What was initially cause for dismay, the first big dump of snow, has suddenly been transformed into something magical. Something as simple as being reminded of the beauty of the seasonā€™s first snowfall has served to change my perspective.

Alone, I am the Grinch. Through connection with others, I find my inner Cindy Lou Who.

Group can do that. Alone with our thoughts, it can be hard at times to view things through an alternate lens. With input from others, our world transforms.

We are currently enrolling for our January Emotions management program. If you have not yet taken it, please contact us soon to avoid disappointment.

Stay warm and young at heart,

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

The powerful interesectin of creativity and resilience

The powerful interesectin of creativity and resilience

by | Dec 1, 2023 | Belinda's Thoughts, Creativity, Friday's Inspiration, Growth, joy, Mindfulness, Recovery

The powerful interesection of creativity and recovery

Look at what happens when we trust what good things lie within.

Inside each of us is a hidden artist, with a creative spark waiting to be released. It may not yet know how to express itself, but it lies dormant, waiting to be discovered.

As those who are injured begin to get better, they often reconnect with their creative selves. We see it at Makerā€™s during our monthly Maintaining Health groups; we witness it in our staff team meetings as peopleā€™s hearts take watercolor shape on paper. Most recently, this has been revealed in our waiting room, when Fern proudly showed us an incredible piece of her art ā€“ a handcrafted, felted, Islandic inspired wool carpet, which she magically produced in just 3 days.

Such is the power when creativity and recovery intersect.

Warm thoughts,Ā 

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