LIFESHINE BLOG

As a dog owner, I never stop appreciating the welcome I receive when I walk through the door. Dogs are pack animals, and after some quick Googling, I find that most experts agree dogs are genetically predisposed to being “social”. Like pack animals, humans are social beings. And crucial to our emotional and mental well-being, is the inborn need to belong to community. Community allows us to learn from others; it fuels personal growth, and feeds our desire to belong. To begi

When we hear the term “loss & grief”, many of us immediately reference the death of a loved one. Losing someone or something you love or care deeply about is very painful and can be difficult to move forward. Similarly, but obviously different, when we experience life changes we can experience many of the same uncomfortable, painful emotions. Divorce or separation can bring the loss of relationship, family, place of residence, friends, or social groups. Personal injury can

In this digital age, most of us are bombarded by constant distractions via texts, emails, snapchats, Facebook, Twitter….the list goes on! Many are finding solace by taking a device sabbatical – unplugging from the virtual world, and connecting back to the physical world. Choosing to reconnect with ourselves, others, and the world around us can have its challenges. Here are a few helpful ideas to begin your “reconnection” to yourself! Help others. Take some supplies to the l

There have been 34 suicides among First Responders across Canada in the last year according to the Tema Conter Memorial Trust, an organization that supports Research, Training & Education Dealing with traumatic stress among first responders. That’s 34. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can happen to someone because of a single traumatic event. However, first responders are exposed to hundreds - perhaps thousands of these events over the course of a career. Crippling sym

Often the busyness of everyday tasks can overtake our feelings of joy and happiness in life. This over-stimulated heaviness makes it vitally important to be aware of when we need to look after ourselves. Self-care is not a selfish, rude way of living, but rather a path to our own health and well-being. 1. Take time for yourself – This doesn’t have to be an expensive getaway. Enjoy a cup of coffee on the deck, take a walk, have a hot bath, get a massage. Taking time for yo

As I sit in my office and look out into the largest storm of the year, I can’t help but be reminded of how the rain can be a great metaphor of washing things clean – much like tears do to our physical and emotional well-being. Of course, your tears help flush irritants, and lubricate your eyeballs to help see, but here are some interesting facts about how tears are healthy for us emotionally. 1. Emotional Tears help release toxins. A study by Dr. William H. Frey II, a bioch