Tune in and Contribute to our New Blog Series – STRONGER EVERY DAY

Our Health & Wellness team—myself, Laurie Coreau, Stacie Dixon, and Tara Rozenek—is excited to launch a new blog series this year called Stronger Every Day. Throughout the year, we’ll be sharing resources, stories, photos, recipes, and other content focused on health and wellness. We’d love this to be a collaborative space, so we warmly invite your participation. Please share your ideas, questions, comments, and personal stories—we can’t wait to hear from you.

January – Let’s Talk About Mental Health

Mental Health is incredibly important as nearly 970 million people worldwide are currently living with mental illness. Now, more than ever we need to come together to share information and cultivate more compassion and kindness.

Let’s Start the Conversation

To kick off this series we’re choosing to get a little vulnerable ourselves. Mental health challenges touch all of us at some point, whether at work, at home, or often both. While some people feel comfortable sharing what they’re going through, others prefer to keep things private.

In this space, we’ll be opening up about some of the personal challenges we’ve been navigating lately, and we invite you to join us if you feel comfortable. Sharing your story can be a powerful part of healing and can offer encouragement and connection to others facing similar experiences. Our hope is that by humanizing these conversations, we can help break down barriers and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. There’s no judgment here. Every story is valid, and what feels manageable to one person may feel overwhelming to someone else. We’ll also talk about what helps us cope and stay grounded when things feel overwhelming. We warmly invite you to participate by sending your story along with the coping strategies that help you most to nancy.scarrow@ufv.ca

Nancy – HR

I consider myself a fairly resilient person, but my greatest vulnerability has always been my children’s health and happiness. Even though they are grown adults now, that worry never truly goes away. Helping them navigate an uncertain and often frightening future is always on my mind.

Nine years ago, my daughter experienced an unexpected, life-altering health challenge, and since then she has faced many physical and mental obstacles. I am incredibly proud of how far she has come, yet it still breaks my heart that her life hasn’t unfolded the way she once envisioned. She has good days and bad days, and I’m there for her through all of it—I just wish I could do more. This past year has been especially hard for her but she is strong and is working on herself and making great progress.

Solace in nature is my saving grace. When life leaves me feeling worn down, a forest bath or a walk by the water restores my energy and helps me regain perspective on the bigger picture. Breathing in fresh, clean air grounds me, creates space for my thoughts—sometimes spoken out loud—and allows me to reset and move forward with greater clarity.

Tara – HR

I’ve always considered myself an active, resilient person; however, this past year truly tested my limits and strength. 2025 saw me experience a marriage break-up after 20 years, and my mental health was quite impacted. Physical activity became my saving grace; not only increasing my strength training but also discovering my love of walking. A good walk, regardless of the weather, can have such a positive impact on my mood. I may not feel like getting out there but never have any regrets once I do! I really can see how physical health and mental health are inter-connected.

Stacie – HR

Seasons of change, navigating growth, and being kind to myself have been at the forefront lately. Mid-Fall I went through surgery and everything got turned upside down affecting my active lifestyle, young family, and new position at work—all at once. This change limited my mobility, daily routines, and sense of independence.

To care for my mental health during this adjustment, I’ve focused on what I can do, not what I can’t. Gradually returning to work, asking for help, and accepting support have been humbling yet rewarding. Recovery is still a journey and as I am slowly back to walking, I’ve embraced the truth that I can only control myself—not others—a lesson I’ve been teaching my children and finally living myself.

Deep breaths and the reminder that “this too shall pass” have carried me through thus far.

Laurie – HR

I’ve always carried resilience within me, and over time, life’s experiences have shaped it into something even stronger. Life has thrown its share of challenges my way, and what has helped me through those tough times has been the support of family, good friends, the calming presence of nature, and the power of physical activity. These anchors have kept me grounded and reminded me of what truly matters. I have mental health—just like everyone does. One thing I do to take care of my mental health is spending time outdoors and staying active. Movement and nature have always been my reset button, helping me clear my mind and recharge.

Lately, I’ve been learning something important: how to be good to others while also taking care of myself. It sounds simple, but in reality, it’s hard. I think many of us can relate—we often put ourselves last. We prioritize work, family, and responsibilities, and somewhere along the way, our own well-being slips down the list.

This year, I’ve made a resolution: to put myself first. Not in a selfish way, but in a way that allows me to show up as the best version of myself for others. I want to be good to myself—physically, mentally, and emotionally—while still being there for the people who matter most. Because when we take care of ourselves, we have more energy, patience, and love to give. So, here’s to a year of balance. A year of saying “yes” to self-care without guilt. A year of recognizing that we deserve the same kindness we so freely give to others.

What about you? How do you plan to take care of yourself this year?