Put down the Possum and nobody gets hurt

Put down the Possum and nobody gets hurt

by | Dec 22, 2023 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, Friday's Inspiration

Just put down the possum and nobody gets hurt

Last week, while Christmas shopping, I spied something special in the pet aisle. A cute stuffed possum.

I hadnā€™t decided which dog would get it, but snuck it upstairs once I got home, hiding it carefully in a bag in the corner of my bedroom, just as I would when hiding gifts for children.

Two days later, I spied the possum downstairs on the kitchen counter.

ā€œWhat is this?ā€ I wondered picking it up. The fur was matted and hard, a sign it had been heavily slobbered on and well enjoyed.

ā€œDid you give the dogs the toy?ā€ I asked Joe.

ā€œNo,ā€ he replied shaking his head, ā€œI thought you must have.ā€

The four canines stared at me, blinking innocently. I hid the possum behind my back and slowly edged my way out of the kitchen. The dogs tracked my every move, their bodies twitching with anticipation.

It was then that I spotted the chewed-up packaging for the toy, hidden under the table. I placed the possum down momentarily and was suddenly overwhelmed by a tangle of dogs fighting over the coveted critter.

My four children have grown up and left the home, only to be replaced by four others.

How are your pets behaving this season? Naughty or nice?

Iā€™m half tempted to give mine lumps of coal.

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

Resurgence of the poinsettia – a story of resilience

Resurgence of the poinsettia – a story of resilience

by | Dec 8, 2023 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, Friday's Inspiration, Growth, Recovery, Resilience

Resurgence of the poinsettia – a story of resilience

Around this time last year, we were gifted a healthy and vibrant poinsettia. These red flowering plants are a symbol of the Christmas season, and we loved how it brightened the waiting area with a pop of holiday cheer.

Christmastime came and went, and this beautiful plant was moved from its central location on the coffee table to a corner of the waiting room, where it continued to show-off itā€™s beautiful leaves of red and green… Until it didnā€™t.

One day, while tidying up the space, I noticed this sad, sickly plant with the foil wrap at itā€™s base and remembered that I had not once since the holidays given it water!

The red leaves had long since dropped, as had most of the green ones. All that was left were a few shrivelled brown stems. I considered tossing it into the compost, but then noticed the tiniest light-green curled-up leaves beginning to unfurl.

I quickly gave it a good drink and put it into the sunshine of the kitchen. Day after day, the landing Strong team nurtured it. Slowly but surely, fresh vegetation began to appear.

Itā€™s been almost a year now, and we are happy to report that our poinsettia is alive, healthy, and well. Just this week Iā€™ve noticed that the vibrant red is returning! Resiliency is all around us.

Warm thoughts,

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

Finding Gold at the end of the rainbow

Finding Gold at the end of the rainbow

by | Nov 24, 2023 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, Friday's Inspiration, Growth, joy, PTSD

Finding gold at the end of the rainbow

Today I walked to work with a skip in my step and a smile on my face.

You see, my office is close to the group room. All week, I had been hearing the animated sounds of connection as participants from three separate programs formed new bonds, shared experiences, and supported one another in their respective journeys of recovery.

I can tell the programs are going well. The warmth and laughter spill across the reception area, like the heartbeat of the building.

On Friday, as I walked to work, all I needed to do was follow the rainbow.Ā  Literally.Ā  It took me directly to Landing Strong.

What a happy way to end a wonderful week.

Warm thoughts,

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

How many psychologists can you fit in an ambulance?

How many psychologists can you fit in an ambulance?

by | Nov 17, 2023 | Belinda's Thoughts, Caregivers, Community, Friday's Inspiration, Leadership, PTSD, Social Media

How many psychologists can you fit into an ambulance?

A few weeks ago, Dr. Petra Woehrle and I joined a group of Psychologists for an experiential training regarding cultural considerations in working with Crown Attorneys and Paramedics.

We listened to personal stories, attended Court, and hopped into an ambulance for some high-speed drills. It was an incredible day but most of all, I was affected by the following information:


ā€¢ The average career span of a paramedic used to be 5-7 years. Recently itā€™s been reduced to 3-5.
ā€¢ The Crown Attorneyā€™s office has lost 20% of its Prosecutors in recent years; a few to retirement, but many have found the conditions of the work too onerous to continue.
ā€¢ 20% of Nova Scotia Paramedics are currently on leave.
ā€¢ 25% of Halifax Regional Police are currently on leave.


This day served to renew my commitment to ensuring supports are there for those who need them.

We are grateful indeed for your service,

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