Just how good are you?

Just how good are you?

by | Nov 8, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Challenge, Courage, Friday Inspiration

Just how good are you?

What do you say when people ask you where you are in your recovery?

“I’m way better than last year thanks but not yet as good as next year.”

“Moving in the right direction.”

Or my personal favorite shared by someone in group this week:

“Operating at an advanced level with exceptions”

The reality is, recovery is a journey, not a destination. It’s not something we “arrive” at, with the trip ending at a gold ribboned finish line and a crowd cheering us on. Make no mistake, as you recover, we will be there to celebrate your accomplishments, handing you healthy snacks and encouragement along the way. But often the gains will be more stealth. Suddenly you can sit with your back to the door without worries. You may no longer jump three feet off your chair when someone coughs loudly. Or heaven forbid, you may even enjoy a shopping trip to Costco.

With physical health, we understand that there isn’t an end point; a time when we say “great, my work is done, I’m good for life.” It’s a lifelong commitment. Emotional health is no different. There is really no such thing as “recovery,” because it isn’t an all or nothing concept.

Perhaps it’s more accurate to think of recovery from occupational stress injury as a continuum: a practice and commitment to long-term health.

For members of our community interested in deepening your tool kit, we will be offering an eight-week (2 hours per week) program of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).
Developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, this program is designed to provide intensive mindfulness training to help manage stress and reduce anxiety, depression, and pain.

Please give Julie a call if you are interested (902) 472-2972.

 

We hope to see you soon,

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

Big ideas, small packages

Big ideas, small packages

by | Nov 1, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Friday Inspiration, Gratitude, joy, Relaxation, Self-Awareness

Big ideas, small packages

Life is about big ideas, but it doesn’t always come in the way we expect it.

I started this growing season full of enthusiasm and ambition. On top of the usual tomatoes, carrots, and beans I thought I’d try my hand at cantaloupe, and watermelon, and retry last year’s failed crop; cucumbers.

I am happy to report that I was able to grow some of each. The unexpected part was their size. Some magical fairy dust was sprinkled over my garden, making everything grow in miniature.

Life can sometimes be like that. We might have big dreams that are delivered to us in small packages. The trick is celebrating and accepting whatever comes our way.

You may have had big dreams about your career and feel that somehow things didn’t quite measure up to your expectations. The skill lies in recognizing the growth and abundance that still lies in your journey.

Sometimes victory comes in small steps. For me, I’ll aim at growing next year’s crop one inch bigger.

 

Warmly,

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

Building on small successes

Building on small successes

by | Oct 18, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Friday Inspiration, joy, Love

Building on small successes

A few weeks ago we shared news of our Community Connections Fly Fishing which provided a new skill and fun at the water’s edge. The day ended with some equally joyful cranberry picking.

Wanting to share the joy of the day and the specialness of the experience with family, I took them back to the same spot this Thanksgiving weekend. I’m happy to report that in under an hour and with the sun beaming down upon us we were each able to pick a large bowl of cranberries. My cranberries have already been transformed into delicious bottles of jam, the first of which we enjoyed at our Thanksgiving meal.

Although it rained on Saturday soon after, with winds whipping up and the temperature suddenly dropping five degrees, the window of sunshine, companionship, and play was a beautiful way to start the day.

We are all subjected to sudden turns of weather in our lives. Recovery and health involve selectively attending to our successes and systematically building upon them. Going out once for coffee with a friend or group can buoy your spirits, but committing to doing so regularly can help keep you afloat, even adding wind to your sails. Taking one group program might be helpful, but in and of itself it won’t be enough. It’s the gradual and gentle addition of programs over time that creates the momentum necessary for significant growth.

Drop us a line if you’re interested in joining Community Connections this Monday. We’re creating fall wreaths and enjoying hot coffee and sweet treats at Landing Strong.

 

We hope to see you there,

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

Keeping ourselves open

Keeping ourselves open

by | Oct 4, 2024 | Belinda's Thoughts, Challenge, Change, Friday Inspiration

Keeping ourselves open

I hesitate to share this with you because I like to keep our weekly chats upbeat. But as we always say… show up as you are. In the spirit of authenticity, I’m going to try to do just that.

We recently lost our beloved dog Zuri. Thirteen years of a full life should be a cause for celebration, but I just feel sad.

My instinct is to pull away from the pain, busying myself with the details of life, but a slow throb in my temples serves as a reminder of the deep sense of loss I feel.

I think to myself, maybe I can’t have another dog, this is too hard.

But then I’m reminded of all of the people we work with who are injured. Our consistent message to them is don’t avoid your emotions. In order to experience positive emotions, we have to open ourselves to the hard ones. Closing ourselves off eliminates the possibility of love. By keeping our hearts open despite fears associated with potential loss we allow our world to expand, and we are not left home alone in our pain.

Whether we’ve experienced the loss of an animal, a loved one, or a dream of something that that played out differently than we had hoped, together we will remember the importance of opening ourselves to hope and possibilities of new growth.

 

Warm thoughts,

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