Apple or booty?

Apple or booty?

by | Jun 13, 2025 | Growth, Recovery, Resilience, Self-Awareness

Apple or booty?

Is it just me, or does this apple look like someone’s backside?

Sometimes, things don’t always look the way we expect. It can all be a matter of perspective.

When people think of PTSD they may imagine forlorn faces, anxiety and isolation. Yes, it sometimes looks like that, but anyone that comes to our programs knows that recovery often takes the form of connection, laughter, creativity and hope.

How many times have I heard raucous laughter erupting from the group room, or witnessed people proudly showing off their creations at Maker’s Studio?

It may feel like the best way to stay safe is to stay at home, but we know from experience that the opposite is true.

We look forward to seeing you Friday June 13th for our Recognition Celebration, and first-ever Artisanal Fair. Come enjoy the creative talents of our Landing Strong community. We hope you will join us.

 

Warmly,

 

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

Big things are just around the corner

Big things are just around the corner

by | Jun 6, 2025 | Belinda's Thoughts, Challenge, Community, Courage, Creativity, Growth, joy

Big things are just around the corner

I know it’s coming, do you?

In previous years the staff at Landing Strong put on our annual Recognition Celebration. It’s a time where we pause to recognize the contribution to community of our Landing Strong members, as well as their efforts made to restore health.

This year the celebration is taking a different form. We are excited to be hosting the celebration in conjunction with our first ever Artisanal Fair.

This offers an opportunity for veterans and first responders to showcase their creative works, often symbolic of their journeys of recovery.

Our first organizational meeting was met with 17 enthusiastic members, eager to participate to ensure this event is a success.

Many of you have already signed up, don’t worry, we have an artist’s table reserved for you.

On a personal note, I’m excited for the formal launch of two books.
Summiting your PTSD Mountain: Lessons from Kilimanjaro and Standing Strong a workbook for Veterans and First Responders Navigating the Stress of Service. Free copies of both will be available to those who attend!

This event is open to the public from 3:30-5:00 pm. For members of our Landing Strong community, you are invited to arrive at 1:45pm, for our private Recognition Celebration that begins at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of admission we are accepting non-perishable donations to the Matthew 25 food bank.

Please help us spread the word! We hope to see you there!

 

Warmly,

 

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

An artist in each of us

An artist in each of us

by | May 23, 2025 | Courage, Creativity, Growth, joy

An artist in each of us

Many people claim that they don’t have artistic ability. I beg to differ.

As part of recovery, within each of us there is an inevitable artistic side waiting to come out. It might take the shape of watercolors, pastels, ceramics, glassworks, textiles or woodcraft. Hesitant to show itself at first, the budding artist can’t help but blossom when nurtured and allowed an opportunity to grow.

A group of women recently completed a 5-day retreat with us, creating inspiration cards on which they wrote motivational quotes to guide them on their journeys. For some, it is something they have already been practicing and wish to continue, for others it’s a thought or practice they aspire to.

Recovery takes the form of vibrant shapes and colors, inspirational quotes, and communities of people bonded by shared experiences. It involves reflection, self-expression, listening and feeling seen and understood. It requires the courage to stand up and give voice to words that may not yet have been uttered.

We applaud the work each of you are doing and celebrate the creative growth that inevitably ensues.

Please come witness some of the tremendous examples of fun and creativity of our Landing Strong community at our Artisanal Fair on Friday June 13th.

This event will be exclusive to our Landing Strong community from 2pm-3:30pm, the General Public will be welcomed to join us from 3:30pm-5:00pm. Come for the first hour or so or stay for the entire time. We hope to see you there.

 

Warmly,

 

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

When life gives you lemons

When life gives you lemons

by | Apr 25, 2025 | Balance, Belinda's Thoughts, Gratitude, Growth, Resilience

When life gives you lemons 

 

A couple years ago I wrote a blog about surviving the dreariness of Covid isolation by growing lemons and limes indoors.

One of the trees has done well. The second, a scraggly rag-tag bush, has struggled. This past summer, I almost threw it out, convinced I had killed it. Instead, I poured love into it, doing my best to nurture it back to health.

The photo above shows what one of the branches produced this week; three glorious lemons.

How is it possible, you might ask, that something so little can produce something so big? Ah, isn’t that the picture of resilience!

Like the lemon tree, you too might at times have felt less than the best version of yourself. With love, care and nurturing, growth is inevitable.

We’re currently loading our Healthy Living program: May 20th, 27th, June 3rd,17th, 24th. We also have just a couple spaces left in our Surviving to Thriving retreat: April 27-May 2. Call us today to sign up. 902-472-2972 or info@landingstrong.com

 

Warmly,

 

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

A little exercise goes a long way

A little exercise goes a long way

by | Feb 28, 2025 | Growth, Plan, PTSD, Recovery, Resilience

A little exercise goes a long way

A little exercise goes a long way

Have I mentioned recently that our dog Kira is a scamp?

Half Huskey, half Pomeranian, she’s hard-wired for high levels of activity and social engagement. She likes to play a game with us called “How long is your toilet paper roll?”

If we haven’t taken her outside for sufficient exercise, she darts downstairs when we’re not looking and papers the entire first floor. She knows she’s not allowed to, so she retreats to the timeout spot immediately afterward, awaiting our reproach. She just can’t help herself.

Kira’s behaviors serve as a reminder of the importance of exercise as part of our daily regime to maintain good mental health. This time of year it’s easy to hunker in, wrap ourselves in cuddly blankets, indulge in comfort foods, and watch more TV than we normally would. Kira knows to expend energy to balance herself while we, on the other hand, tend to do the opposite. To avoid the inevitable slump of winter, our bodies need boosters to recharge.

What activities do you do to inject life into your winter? Even a quick walk around the block can have the same jubilating effect as toilet-papering your home.

We are currently loading up our Overcoming Trauma & Resiliency program. Is your name on the list? We’d love to see you.

 

Warmly,

 

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

A place to call home

A place to call home

by | Feb 21, 2025 | Belinda's Thoughts, Communication, Community, Growth, Recovery, Resilience

                                               

                                           

A place to call home

One of the things I’m most proud of is the warmth with which the Landing Strong community welcomes new members.

In a recent Community Connections group, I noticed a steady stream of participants coming up to a new member to introduce themselves in welcome.

They all remember how hard their first day was, and the strength it takes to simply show up.

Walking through the doors for the first time is the hardest part. Once you witness the warmth with which you’re greeted, you’ll know you’ve come to the right place.

Not only will you be greeted with open arms, but you will also be supported on your journey of recovery. Last week, one of our members debuted a new song he had just written. Surrounded by the support of friendship and encouragement of his peers, he courageously sang of an imaginary Inn where a safe refuge exists for those who are struggling. His words of hope hung like droplets of sweet honey that we all drank in.

There’s a spot for you in our programs and a seat for you at our table. We’re currently loading up for our Overcoming Trauma and Resiliency program, we’d love to see you there.

 

Warmly,

 

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