To a beach resort, where cold drinks are brought to you by the side of a pool? Or backpacking through a mountain pass, discovering tiny flower buds as they push their way through barren soil towards the sun?
Do you like things packaged, and neat? Or are you comfortable with uncertainty?
This April, I plan to escape for a week to somewhere hot where everything is done for me.Ā Perfect.Ā
Next Summer, I hope to backpack the rugged coast of Newfoundland with some good friends, hopping from cove to cove searching for hidden gems. I donāt know what weāll find, but I know there will be great fun in the searching. Being connected and together is an important part of the journey.
Iāll get something different out of each trip. At the warm resort, Iāll get relaxation and catch up on my reading. On the adventure trip, Iāll probably be uncomfortable at times but learn more about myself and those around me. Thatās the trip Iāll most remember. I need both, but if I donāt get out of my comfort zone Iāll stay pretty much the same.
In any journey, we have the power to decide how much risk weāre ready to take on. Increasing numbers of you are signing up for our workshops, and becoming involved with the Landing Strong community. Even after one day, we see change.
Lifeās always smoother when things stay the same. Itās in our response to disruption that true growth takes place.
Take a moment to check out the workshops available this month.Ā
Warm thoughts from the Landing Strong Team,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Founder, Landing Strong
I have a confession to make. I love Christmas, itās the simple things that make it special reallyā¦like the smell of my motherās traditional shortbread recipe filling the house as we play good tunes and decorate cookies together. Although my mother is gone, the smell reminds me of her love. Or watching cheesy Christmas movies together and participating in family fitness bootcamps. Itās a time when we all take time away from our busy lives to connect. My kids will come home, weāll cook some good food together, and maybe have a kitchen dance party or two. In this busy life, and despite the many events of the season, for me, itās a time of reflection and appreciation.
Have you noticed how easy it is to fall into routines in our daily lives that place the needs of others ahead of our own? We form patterns that might not be sustainable, often leaving us discouraged and exhausted. Iām reminded of the importance of taking time to ārefill the wellā before the supply runs dry. Itās an aspect of our wellbeing thatās often neglected.
If we donāt make a conscious effort to destress at the end of each day, the cumulative effect of what we carry in our lives can become increasingly difficult to hold. Thatās why doing something we enjoy each day is so important. We are offering two programs in January, both designed to build resilience and help us stay strong.
For First Responders and Veterans living with PTSD, anxiety or depression, we have the āNew Year, New Youā workshop on January 11th.
For Caregivers, friends and family of these First Responders and Veterans, we are offering Part 1 of our āCare for the Caregiverā series on January 7th for those who werenāt able to attend the first series.
We hope that you will join us.
Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season.
Warm regards from the entire Landing Strong Team, Belinda
On Saturday night, my husband Joe and I had the pleasure of attending the Festival of Trees in Halifax.Ā This black-tie event is a gala fundraiser for the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia.Ā Each year, a forest of stunning trees is admired and auctioned off.
Joe and I have a tradition of bidding on the tree that is beautiful but isnāt being noticed.Ā It often sits there quietly, waiting to be claimed, but for some reason is overlooked.Ā Over the years, we have amassed quite a forest.Ā With the opening of Landing Strong, I thought it would be nice to take one of our trees to the new centre.Ā When I brought this up to Joe, I could see evidence of the love in his heart for all of our trees.Ā Parting with any one of them would not be possible.Ā The only option was to find another evergreen in need of a home.
We were successful.Ā When I saw the tree, I immediately knew it belonged in our office and would find a home with us.
Along with the tree, we hope that many people might take root in our community.Ā Like the enchanted forest, we will create something magical.
In the spirit of new growth, we would like to tell you about whatās in store for you over the next few months:
Today marks the launch of our program, āCare for the Caregiverā. This is the first in a series of day-long workshops.Ā Donāt worry if you missed the first one, each is offered as a stand-alone.
In the month of December, keep an eye on your inbox for useful tips around managing the holidays in a healthy and low-stress manner.
Early in the new year we will be unrolling a menu of programs designed to support you on your journey of health and recovery.Connect with us onsocial media for news on these exciting initiatives.
Ps. Special thanks to Compass Group Canada for including us in this special evening.
When stepping onto an airplane, you can expect to hear a short safety presentation from the crew.Ā Passengers are usually instructed that in the case of an emergency, they should put on their own oxygen masks before assisting someone else.Ā If we donāt take care of ourselves, we cannot be there for others.Ā Sometimes, this means prioritizing ourselves even when someone we care about needs us.
This month, our focus has been on caring for those who support others.Ā In many ways, we are all caregivers.Ā Weather itās in a first responder role or caring for loved ones, we can only continue in these roles to the extent that we take the time to properly nourish ourselves.
On November 30th, we are offering a 1-day program on self-care:
Learn how to improve your health, relationship, and ability to handle future challenges.
Gain clarity on your roles & needs
Master tools for success in all aspects of your life
Identify your strengths and make them work for you
Let us help you get to where you want to be.
We hope youāll join us. Ā Contact us at (902) 472-3272 or info@landingstrong.com to reserve your seat.
āGet comfortable being uncomfortableā was the suggestion that my friend and business coach, Eleanor Beaton, gave me this week. She was speaking to me about the importance of pushing ourselves toward new things, even when they are challenging or intimidating.
I discussed this topic in a previous blog, when describing my experience in yoga class. It was reassuring to be reminded that itās normal to feel uncomfortable. Looking forward, I think Iām in for a long period of it. Instead of embracing the growing pains, I feel like a character in an Alfred Hitchcock film who is trying to get comfortable while lying on a bed of nails. Itāll take time and practice; some things just canāt be rushed.
There are many new and exciting changes going on, each one introducing new fears or worries.Ā Will we receive funding to start the 3 month program soon? Will the next PTSD Hero Comic be well received? Are the messages we are sending out on social media having a positive impact? Will we get the next grant application in on time?
To get through this time, I tell myself this is not a permanent state. I remind myself of the importance of self-care, making a point of taking a step back when I am feeling overwhelmed.Ā Most importantly, I rely on good friends and a hot tea to remind me Iām not doing it alone.
Weāre taking a huge leap of faith, and creating something innovative and exciting. We feel honoured that you are with us, by being part of our virtual community. With each new addition to our email list, our community has grown by one. Every time you share posts, you help us to spread the word and expand our community. For as you know, it isnāt just a community for those who are injured. It is also for those who are supporting them, or cheering from the sidelines. We are in a marathon of recovery, and even the person who hands out water, or shares the word is part of a wave of social change. There is strength in numbers
Keep telling us what you think. If you have ideas or issues you would like addressed, feel free to send them to us directly at info@landingstrong.com.Ā We love to hear from you!
