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.
Itâs 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
You know those moments when as soon as you say something, you know it came out wrong?
In group, we have a practice we call a âdo over.â
Itâs an opportunity to freeze-frame a moment, coming back to it and replaying it, with the opportunity to say things the way we intended. Itâs a chance to make sure we are understood.
To allow others to do this, we need to give them the benefit of doubt: assuming that their intentions are honourable, even if their communication may not be great.
I wonder what would happen if our guiding principle became âseek to understand?â
What a different place the world would be.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
No matter what the situation, remind yourself “I have a choice.” Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â – Deepak Chopra
Injury is often associated with powerlessness or a loss of control.  When I first started working in the federal penitentiary, I believed I was capable of evoking powerful, positive change.  Both for the inmates I was working with, as well as with the system itself. Â
âYou donât belong hereâ the inmates repeatedly warned me.  Turns out they were right, but it took me seven years to understand that. Â
Iâve never thought of myself as a quitter. I had to learn the hard way about the difference between quitting, and choosing not to continue.  Quitting is giving up.  Choosing not to continue is making an informed decision based on your experiences regarding what is healthy and sustainable, and what isnât. Itâs easy to judge ourselves based on what we were not able to do.
We can focus on the things we couldnât do, or we can choose to focus on those things that are in our power. I choose to do my best to help someone today I chose to invest in my health I chose to move forward. I chose love.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
When I was young, my parents would take me and my three siblings on road trips to visit the East Coast. We loved exploring Nova Scotiaâs beaches and would spend hours looking for âbeach treasuresâ that had been left behind by the tide. Itâs a long drive from Toronto, and eager to start our holiday, we tried to make the trip with as few detours as possible.
On one of these trips, we were on a remote road in Nova Scotia when my younger sister complained of feeling nauseous.
âAre we there yet?â she asked, holding her belly.
If we were smart, we would have pulled over quickly. Unfortunately, we didnât. Minutes later, all I can say is that we all got an unpleasant lesson in wind velocity and splatter patterns.
Had we paced ourselves better, this likely couldâve been avoided. Taking needed breaks is very important, even though it makes the trip a bit longer.
I recently spoke to my good friend Finka about pacing myself at work, and I was wondering aloud about when Iâd know when Iâd âarrivedâ. At what point would I get that sense of accomplishment that the job was done, and I could take my foot off the gas for a while and not have a never ending âto doâ list in my head.
âAh, thatâs the myth,â she smiled wryly, âIt doesnât matter how successful you are, in any business, each success brings more challenges. Challenge is the one thing thatâs constantâ
I thought long and hard about this. Iâve been operating on the principle that one day, I will arrive. My job will be done. I realize now that life simply isnât like that. The more I do, the more I open the possibility for more to be done.
So what if recovery is like that? Itâs a steady stream of building, growing and understanding. Each day we evolve into a better version of ourselves, whether we have PTSD or not. If thatâs the case, the need for pacing becomes incredibly important. Maybe the point is not arriving, but the journey itself. Iâll need to be sure to stop and enjoy the view, taking a breather when needed.
What if we remind ourselves to take those precious moment to appreciate the little things. Thoughtful interactions, humorous moments, small victories. These are indeed the stuff life is made of.
Warm wishes,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
I like to take Thanksgiving literally. A time for reflection, and gratitude.
The internet and news remind us that thereâs a lot wrong with the world. This weekend I plan to turn it off. Instead, I want to think of the many things that Iâm thankful for.
Simple things, nothing earthshatteringâŠ
A perfect latte on a cold day
The tantalizing smell of a roasting turkey
The good company of family and friends
Sun rays glistening off a waterâs surface
The cry of a newborn baby
Crisp fall air and brilliantly coloured trees.
Picking perfect apples on a sunny Saturday morning.
Join me in thoughts of gratitude and plenty, Warm thoughts and Happy Thanksgiving
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Executive Director, Landing Strong
