How are you colouring your world?

How are you colouring your world?

by | Aug 9, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Forgiveness, Friday Inspiration, Mindfulness, Resilience, Wisdom

How are you colouring your world?

While walking home from work the other day, this beautiful sight caught my eye. Some people might see a sidewalk. For this little girl, it was a canvas waiting to be painted.

Our thoughts really do become our reality. They shape our world.

If I wake up in the morning fearful of the bad things that might happen in my day, Iā€™m surely going to selectively attend to the unpleasant aspects of life. If on the other hand, I wake up thinking of the world in technicolor, this too, can pave my reality as the day unfolds. The day begins before we get out of bed. It often starts the night before, by the way we put ourselves to sleep.

What loving practices, self-care routines, or aspirations do you build on to set yourself up for a colourful day of abundance?

 

Warm thoughts,

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

Houston, we have a problem

Houston, we have a problem

by | Aug 2, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Forgiveness, Friday Inspiration, Mindfulness, Resilience, Wisdom

Houston, we have a problem.

I have a problem. Itā€™s a Canada Goose problem.

Donā€™t get me wrong, I love our iconic Canadian feathered friends, but I donā€™t love their poop.

Despite my best efforts, the lawn at our lake house is covered with their dark tarry mess. I bought an owl, designed to scare them away. It seems this plan backfired. This owl soon became their best friend. I come home from work only to find the geese nestled lovingly beside her, their numbers growing with each passing day.

Many people are hesitant to join our programs, thinking they may, like the owl, scare others off. Perhaps thereā€™s a fear of not fitting in. Newcomers to Landing Strong frequently report how quickly they felt at ease and settled into our group programs.

Once you arrive, you too may quickly learn that birds of a feather, flock together. We may look different, but underneath it all, our shared experiences unite us.

Weā€™re currently enrolling for our Identity & Transition program, as well as our brand new Community Connection program.

As always, our monthly Maintaining Health series is open to all members of our community.

Warm thoughts,

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

It’s a good thing she’s cute

It’s a good thing she’s cute

by | Jun 21, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Caregivers, Challenge, Forgiveness

It’s a good thing she’s cute

Seven weeks ago we got a new puppy; a Pomsky – part Pomeranian, part Husky. Kira is a fluffy ball of happiness, mischievousness and energy. Her favorite pastimes are stealing and hiding our socks and pulling astonishing escape-artist maneuvers. Our fitness levels are rapidly improving as we do laps chasing her around the yard.

Although Kira is much smaller than her Husky ancestors, her body remembers the joy of running as though sheā€™s pulling a dog sled. In true Husky fashion, she likes to hold lengthy conversations with us regarding her needs and opinions and does so compellingly. Needless to say, sheā€™s the only dog allowed to sleep in our bed. Kiraā€™s identity runs deep. Even three generations of breeding doesnā€™t change who she is.

If you are injured, you may think that a part of you is lost or gone forever. In truth, who you are at your core, never really changes. You may not have the same physique you had in your 20ā€™s, but your desire to be of service is likely still strong. The dedication, determination, and values that brought you to your work continue to serve as guiding principles in your life.

Time does change us. This can be a good thing. If we better learned to recognize our strengths, it might be easier to embrace changes in our lives rather than resisting them.

Like our furry little ball of fluff, good things can come in unexpected packaging.

Warm thoughts,

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

The courage to forgive

The courage to forgive

by | Jun 10, 2022 | Belinda's Thoughts, Courage, Forgiveness, Mindfulness, Resilience

The courage to forgive

Iā€™ve been working in the field of trauma for close to thirty years: in womenā€™s shelters, the federal penitentiary system, hospitals, schools and community. In all the dark spaces and allĀ of the dark places, one universal truth Iā€™ve come to understand is that healing and compassion are closely intertwined. Anger and shame anchor us to the past, whereas forgiveness and self-compassion pave the way forward. When we live in anger, we allow others to control the narrative of our journey. Thereā€™s incredible freedom in letting go.


Martin Luther King Jr. understood this when he wrote:

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.


Desmond Tutu states:

Forgiveness is not weak. It takes incredible courage to face and overcome powerful emotions.


Next Thursday, ourĀ Maintaining HealthĀ Program is going to explore the freedom that accompanies compassion and forgiveness.

If youā€™ve taken a previous program, youā€™re welcome to join. Just drop us a line so that we know youā€™re coming.Ā 

We also still have spots left in theĀ Navigating Next Steps ProgramĀ Series, starting this Tuesday. Creating Confidence and Clarifying Strengths runs for five weeks. It is designed to build trust and confidence, identify strengths and re-affirm values that are most important.

We look forward to seeing you.

Warm regards,

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

I’m fixing my Karma

I’m fixing my Karma

by | Oct 25, 2019 | Belinda's Thoughts, Communication, Forgiveness, Self-Awareness

Okay, so maybe I was not perfect this week.  Pretty good at work, but a bit on the grouchy side with my husband [sorry Joe].  I think something I was worried about spilled over into the home front.  We talked it out, and all is good now.  Iā€™m reminded of the importance of repair.  If Iā€™ve done something thoughtless, itā€™s easier to allow time and distance to heal rather than having those difficult conversations.  But in the spirit of Karmic correctness, itā€™s always better to face up to those times when we have faltered.

I heard the expression ā€œIā€™m fixing my Karmaā€ the other day, and loved it because it makes the assumption we are all works in progress.  Walking, running, stumbling, and then getting back up again, dusting off, and trying to find our stride.  I want to work not just on forgiveness for others, but also forgiveness for myself.

Each day, we all do our best.  Perhaps thatā€™s more than enough.
 
Warm regards, 

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