What do we regret?
What do we regret? Looking back on my life, there are definitely things I wish I’d done differently. Had I known up front the consequences of some decisions I made, I may have chosen another path. Hmmm…would I have chosen to work in the federal penitentiary? ...
The courage to forgive
The courage to forgive I’ve been working in the field of trauma for close to thirty years: in women’s shelters, the federal penitentiary system, hospitals, schools and community. In all the dark spaces and all of the dark places, one universal truth I’ve come to...
Celebration of Unsung Heroes
Celebration of Unsung Heroes Last week we held a celebration for veteran and first responders who have completed The Landing Strong Foundation and Work Force Reintegration Programs. We worked hard to make the event special, but I must confess I was holding my breath,...
Training and expertise can’t help but shine through
Training and expertise can’t help but shine through We’ve just started a new Healthy Living program that involves participation in the community. Once a week, after our morning programming, a group of Landing Strong members attend the Windsor Maker’s studio to work...
Hope for the future
Hope for the future One of the biggest challenges we can face following injury is determining how to best fit into our old lives. Picking up where we left off usually isn’t possible. Knowing how to contribute and feel as though we’re still of use can feel confusing....
What does it mean to be Canadian this year?
What does it mean to be Canadian this year? There are many things about this country that I’m proud of. This hardly feels like a time for celebration, though, as deep penetrating sonar unearths our nations darkest secrets. Today, on Canada Day, I choose to focus on...
How do we make a difference when the problem feels so big?
How do we make a difference when the problem feels so big? Over the past few weeks, the very foundation of our country has rocked with the discovery of 1,323 bodies of First Nations children at various sites across Canada. It’s believed that there are many more yet...
Hope is just around the corner
There they are. Crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils, pushing their way to sunlight, oblivious of everything that has transpired during this past year. With reassuring predictability and beauty, they remind us that hope is just around the corner.Stay the...
Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder
Working in the federal penitentiary, I frequently met inmates who chose alcohol over life. They repeatedly shared stories of relationships that fell apart because the pull towards substances was more compelling than their desire to be in...
Noticing the tiny perfect things
I recently watched a charming movie on Netflix called A map of tiny perfect things. A young couple, caught in their own personal ground hog day, struggle to find meaning when every day seems a repetition of the previous one. Somewhat like...
