A few years ago I purchased a magic lamp for our Christmas table.
I loved it so much that I began bringing it out at the beginning of the month and illuminating the kitchen each night as we gathered for a meal.
It also proves to be handy for power outages, bringing a sense of wonder to what otherwise could be a cold evening.
My colleague Deb Eaton was so moved by it’s magical glow, swirling snow and vibrant red cardinals that she too had to have one. She shares that on cold days it makes her feel warm inside, bringing back memories of yesteryear. Deb bought a second one for her mother, as I did last year for my father.
I should really think about buying shares in the company given that such a simple item can bring such immense joy.
It’s a true gift to find joy in small packages and unexpected places. Do you have any items that do the same for you?
Warm thoughts,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
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
“Mindfulness is a way of befriending ourselves and our experience.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
This week my sleep has been elusive. I know why. I’ve been watching too much news that documents multiple natural disasters as they unfold. My heart and thoughts have been with people around the world struggling as they face adversity.
Our humanity compels us to watch, but the format of presentation, jumping from story to story and image to image, does not allow for mindful processing of what we witness.
I know that it’s only by acknowledging the impact things have on us that we are able to properly attend to our needs.
What I really need to do is find a moment when I can simply be still and present with my emotions.
Doing art is a helpful activity that allows me to make sense of my day.
If I allow myself this time for reflection, I will sleep better.
Is there any part in your day that allows you to pause and reflect on how you are doing? What might carving out this time for yourself look like?
There’s no “right way” of doing mindfulness. It’s a matter of what is right for you.
Warm thoughts,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
Just because recovery is your focus does not mean that you don’t need down time.
It’s not only therapists who need vacations. Clients too need therapy breaks.
Taking time off work due to injury is not the same thing as a vacation. Doing the work to recover requires steady effort and focus. Other people might perceive time away from the job as time off or vacation. We know it’s far from that.
Just as we would take breaks to rest and recharge from our jobs, the same is true for trauma recovery.
How much time do you think would be healthy or helpful for you?
Please enjoy it, guilt free, and know that we are doing the same.
Warm thoughts,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
Mindfulness moments on Nova Scotia’s craggy shores
We recently learned that many of our Landing Strong community members are rock hounds. I thought it was just me, wandering the beaches of Nova Scotia gleefully gathering prized specimens. It turns out, it’s a shared passion. We are united in the joy we glean from finding beauty in our craggy shores.
Is there something simple and beautiful that helps you keep your thoughts in the moment?
– Appreciating the afterglow of a sunset as the pink hue reflects on water. – Enjoying a cool iced tea on a hot day. – Hearing the sound of waves crashing on a long expanse of sandy beach.
It’s often the simple things that ground us. Rather than actively working to problem solve the future, or process the past, these activities hold our attention, actively engaging us in the present. There is something calming about going out in the world with the sole intention of nothing bigger than finding the next great rock.
Warm thoughts,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
Today is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: A day dedicated to honouring survivors of the residential schools as well as those children who never returned home. It’s a time to acknowledge the painful impact these dark periods of our history have had, and continue to have on individuals, families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic history and ongoing impacts of residential schools has been identified as a vital component of the reconciliation process.
I am incredibly grateful that the words Truth and Reconciliation are given the weight they deserve and are becoming so deeply imbedded within our cultural understanding. We may be powerless to change the past, but as a society we are able to take the time to fully understand the historical impacts of our actions, take stock of where we stand today, and plan for an enlightened future.
On a side note, and in no way to detract from the importance of this day, I also wanted to express gratitude for all of the first responders, hydro and emergency workers who worked tirelessly over the past week to restore power, order and safety to our communities following Hurricane Fiona. My son Albert lives in the 40-unit Dartmouth apartment building that was emergency evacuated in the middle of the night during the hurricane. It was an unsettling time, but the impression that he is left with was the kindness, generosity and positive spirit of neighbours, first responders and volunteers alike. He spoke of the efficiency of an emergency response system that organized warm busses for evicted residents to stay in rather than standing in the raging storm; the kindness and compassion of the Red Cross Workers who handed him a blanket and showed him a cot in the Sportsplex at four in the morning; and the good humour of his neighbours who jokingly commented “they had always wanted a pool, too bad it was in the living room when they had hoped to have it in their bedroom”. In true Nova Scotia style, they meet adversity with good humour and a positive spirit.
I am happy to witness the kindness of strangers, generosity of spirit, and willingness of society to undergo a process of self reflection, ensuring all members of our community feel welcomed, respected and cared for.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
