Happy New Year

Happy New Year

by | Dec 30, 2023 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, Friday's Inspiration, joy, Our Program, Recovery, Self-Awareness

Happy New Year!

Over the holidays I had the chance to spend time with family and friends. One young fellow, Ewan, captured my heart.

No matter what we did, Ewan was filled with excitement, fully enjoying the wonder of each moment as it unfolded.

“This was the best day EVER!” he exclaimed after jumping from the wood-fired sauna into the ice-cold lake.

“I can’t believe I got to chop down my first tree!” he shouted gleefully as the tree hit the ground.

Even when collecting rocks, he did not complain under the burden of the large, heavy bag he was carrying. His only utterance was “It’s so much better with you helping me carry the load.”

At the tender age of ten, Ewan understands that there are some burdens too big to shoulder alone. This is a truth that we somehow often lose sight of once we hit adulthood.

Having more people does indeed lighten the load. Our group programs exist for this very reason, to make sure no one walks alone. When we’re in good company the load we carry inevitably becomes easier to shoulder.

What better way can there be to start the new year than to join a community of people that understand.

If you have not yet signed up for our January program, Emotions Management, there are still a few spots available. If you’ve already completed it, we look forward to seeing you at our monthly Maintaining Health program on January 18th.

Happy New Year!

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.

“Winter is here” I sigh grumpily in a resigned manner. Arriving home, I trudge up the porch and lug my groceries onto the counter.

I’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 season’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 Maker’s during our monthly Maintaining Health groups; we witness it in our staff team meetings as people’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 – 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, 

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.  Literally.  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

Possibility of Wonderful.

Possibility of Wonderful.

by | Oct 27, 2023 | Belinda's Thoughts, Friday's Inspiration, From Belinda, Gratitude, joy, Love

Possibility of Wonderful

Have you met my husband Joe? AKA: ‘The Frenchy’s King’. His superpower is to hit any Guy’s Frenchys in Nova Scotia and within minutes, have his arms loaded with designer athletic gear that looks great!


Me? I’m not so lucky. On the few occasions I actually buy something for myself, I take it home only to realize the outfit does not at all match my imagination of what it would look like on. Think of me in a large paper bag. That’s the look.

However… I’m going to let you in on a secret that I haven’t admitted to many people… I go to Frenchy’s frequently to buy ridiculous amounts of gorgeous baby clothes. It’s become a thing.
I have an entire cupboard dedicated to tiny outfits, adorable sleepers, and little onesies. It is over-stuffed with a wide assortment of beautiful baby items, many of them new with tags still attached. I can’t make much sense of this, except to confess that I’m preparing for ‘the possibly of wonderful’.


I know its just around the corner! Whether it’s for a friend, neighbor, or a member of the family, I’m going to one of the first to show up for the celebration!

Not only that, but I’ve also developed my own style of packaging. Carefully creating wonderful baskets- assembling them like rainbows in a manner that brings me joy!

What ideas or themes do you play in your mind in the preparation of wonderful? Are you actively practicing it? Or silently rehearsing it? Our thoughts do create our realities…

Warm thoughts,

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