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Alone, you can only do so much

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Together We Are Unsinkable

Alone, you can only do so much

Together we are Unsinkable

Together we’re Unsinkable

Unsinkable is a not-for-profit organization founded by Silken Laumann. We care about mental, physical, social, and spiritual health. We share stories, amplify voices, and offer a community of support, resources, and programs built with your wellbeing in mind. Together, we are unsinkable.

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unsinkablestories

Hi there, my name is @itskellichu and I’d like t

Hi there, my name is @itskellichu and I’d like to share my story with you. In 2010 at the age of 21, I was studying abroad in Brisbane, Australia for a year long program. Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish that program.

I was in a serious car accident that left me with severe permanent injuries.

My left hand was so severely crushed and damaged in the accident that doctors immediately thought amputation. They were certain enough to tell me the bad news. Until one doctor spoke up with his plan to save it. And now he’s my hero forever. In addition, my right hand suffered ulnar nerve damage.

Extracting nerve, skin, and muscle from my right leg, a team of doctors tirelessly reconstructed both hands with only one mission in mind: to give this 21 year old girl the best version of the rest of her life.

I’ve had a total of 11 surgeries within a four year recovery period. And with the inevitable amount of pain and trauma I endured and the unexpected challenges and hardships I overcame, I learned a great deal about what can happen if I embraced that this was part of my journey. Through resiliency, authenticity, and forgiveness, I knew, in my heart, that living after surviving is possible. And, that life is now much more rewarding and beautiful.

By practicing positive mindfulness and finding the lightness within my new identity, I turned my unwanted plot twist into a powerful transition, a transition that continues to bring me inner peace and gratitude.

This is why it’s my mission to create a space for community, awareness, and empowerment by speaking openly about living after surviving. And as a trauma survivor, help guide others to better handle the unexpected and create their most fulfilling life!

This is what unsinkable looks like. Thanks for reading!
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For more, check out Kelli's blog https://livingaftersurviving.com/
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Thank you Kelli for sharing your Unsinkable story with us 💛

Choosing a therapist who’s right for you can be

Choosing a therapist who’s right for you can be a daunting task. Because it’s a personal decision with profound impacts on you, it is worth taking several things into consideration.

A good fit is someone you feel comfortable with, someone you trust and respect. You will be sharing struggles, emotions and past events that may bring up fears and vulnerabilities.

You should feel cared for and safe with your therapist, and able to build a strong connection and foundation to expand from with them. Their therapeutic approach should be one that validates your past, including trauma. They should be able to provide psycho-education, for example, on topics such as how trauma impacts us?

Once you find a therapist, ask questions! You are important and so are your questions and feelings. I often have clients who begin with, “I don’t know where to start or what questions to ask.” First of all, there is no wrong way to start. The therapist should be able to answer your questions and make you feel comfortable.

Remember, therapy is about you and your needs. You are interviewing the potential therapist, not the other way around.

A question I am often asked is, “How long do you think therapy will last?” I’m never able to answer that question, not even in the ballpark. The answer is as individual as you are.

Good luck with your search. You and your mental health are important. It takes a strong person to ask for help, and asking is the first step.

- Suzanne Wiseman 💛

Happy National Friendship Day 💛 Let's celebra

Happy National Friendship Day 💛

Let's celebrate our friends by letting them know how amazing they are!

✨ UNSINKABLE COMMUNITY CHAMPION SPOTLIGHT ✨

✨ UNSINKABLE COMMUNITY CHAMPION SPOTLIGHT ✨

I @pammyfitzg have been in the fitness industry for 12 years. After graduating from the Fitness and Health Promotion program at Humber College, I chose to dive deeper into human anatomy and the neuromuscular system through the specialized education programs; Muscle Activation Techniques and Resistance Training Specialist.

I have done extensive work with specialized cadaver dissection programs and remain passionate and devoted to learning more about the human body.

I am committed to helping people enjoy all the activities they love with a strong and healthy body. It is my mission to advocate for healthy exercise and movement. Over the years I have seen so many people struggle to achieve a certain aesthetic or performance level or try to fit into some mold of physicality that society deems worthy. Our bodies are gifts, complex systems and truly remarkable in all shapes, sizes, and capabilities. I am here to provide the insight needed to truly honor and love the human body.

I am a published fitness model and former physique competitor. I work as a public speaker, personal one on one muscle specialist, group training instructor, Yoga instructor, anatomy instructor, nutrition coach and meditation facilitator.

I am #Unsinkable 💛

My personal mission statement is to live a centere

My personal mission statement is to live a centered and supportive life evolving into a better version of myself through inner healing and growth. I've been inspired to help other men who have struggled with coping with life after a stroke.

I am passionate about helping men address, accept, and eventually get to a place of healing and well-being with issues of health and trauma; a testament to my own story, a hemorrhagic stroke survivor who has found healing in an unfamiliar place, where darkness once loomed until hope and desire for healing were sought.

The individuals in the picture with me are Kaja Thornton-Hunter and D'Erika Nichols-Woods. They were instrumental with getting me to the hospital while suffering the stroke.

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Thank you Jeff @sincere_solutions for sharing your powerful and inspiring story with us 💛

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY! The Uns

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY!

The Unsinkable Youth Council offers youth a place to use their voice to make a change! As a council member, they will have the chance to support the development of content for youth, including digital resources, marketing initiatives, and other innovations!

They will work collaboratively with other council members while having their mental health supported by the Unsinkable Youth Council staff.

This opportunity is for youth in grade 7 to 9, who are passionate about mental health and social advocacy.

If this sounds like something the youth in your life would love to do, register them today! Limited spots still available.

Link to register in our bio!

*availability remains for grades 7-9. Grade 10+ has now been filled (acceptance letters coming soon).

Thank you @simonebiles for being so courageous in

Thank you @simonebiles for being so courageous in prioritizing your mental health, even when it also meant making the hard decision to withdrawal from the Olympics.

Thank you for advocating for your well-being, inspiring us to do the same.

You are #Unsinkable! 💛

When our attention is divided, so are we… Thank

When our attention is divided, so are we…

Thank you @mik_brew for sharing this powerful message with us! 💛

If you love Mikaela’s writing, you’ll be delighted to know that she just launched her first novel, “The Sifting Project”! To find out more, visit the link in her bio 🙌

#UnsinkableHumans

Back in 2015, I launched my blog and shared, for t

Back in 2015, I launched my blog and shared, for the first time, the truth of my life. I received countless messages from people letting me know that by me sharing my story, they felt less alone, and in some cases, they were able to share their own as well.

How beautiful when we can see that we go through things not only for ourselves, but also for others.

Living authentically is more than just sharing a dark, shameful story. It’s about removing the mask we use to protect ourselves; the mask that says, “If you don’t really see me, then you can’t judge me or criticize me or point fingers at me.” When we remove the mask, we allow others to see us, with all our faults and imperfections. We allow others to see our humanness. And isn’t that what we ALL want? To see people as they really are? To be seen for who we are? Faults and all?

It takes just about everything we’ve got to be vulnerable – to put ourselves out there for all to see. It takes guts to be who we really are, and it might even go against what everyone else thinks is the “right way” of being. And there is no courage without some measure of fear.

I am grateful every day for my life. All of it: the good, the bad, the joys, the pain, the successes. ALL of it.

It took years of hating myself before I arrived at this place where I no longer feel shame about my past; I have learned to love it and be proud of what I’ve done with my life.

Let go of the shame that has been holding you back. Doing so may just free others to do the same.

And if you’re trying to “keep up” in an effort to be “good enough”, know that you don’t have to live this way anymore. As Oprah reminds us, “you are worthy because you are born”.

Living authentically will change everything.

So remove the mask.

Remove the shame.

And watch your life change for the better.

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To read Sarah's full story, visit the link in our bio! 💛

#UnsinkableHumans

On Tuesday, July 23, 2019, I woke up to an instant

On Tuesday, July 23, 2019, I woke up to an instant and severe headache (which doctors described as a thunderclap headache). I thought it was a migraine, totally unaware that I was suffering from a stroke. I continued my morning routine and drove myself to work. After a co-worker assessed that something was not right, I was taken to the hospital where my blood pressure registered at 280/176, the highest record ever seen by hospital staff. I was then transported to another hospital and spent nine days in ICU. After a time, I had to re-learn how to walk and still battle with cognitive issues. My latest endeavor is dealing with and adjusting to my “new normal”.
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My personal mission statement is to live a centered and supportive life evolving into a better version of myself through inner healing and growth. I've been inspired to help other men who have struggled with coping with life after a stroke. I am passionate about helping men address, accept, and eventually get to a place of healing and well-being with issues of health and trauma; a testament to my own story, a hemorrhagic stroke survivor who has found healing in an unfamiliar place, where darkness once loomed until hope and desire for healing were sought.
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As the CEO of Sincere Solutions, I am committed and focused on providing solutions for individuals who have experienced mental health issues or conflicting trauma. I am also the founder of Men of Recovery Evolving (M.O.R.E), a support group aimed at helping men recover from life’s trauma with an emphasis on healing. I am a native of Muskegon Heights, Michigan where I'm a devoted and proud father of two sons. I attribute my success to my family, villagers, and former teachers who have instilled in me early how great I am and what potential I have for my future. I also bring to my position a well-established background in mental health, first aid, QPR gatekeeper training for suicide, and conflict resolution.
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Thank you Jeff for sharing your Unsinkable story with us 💛
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Connect with Jeff on:
Instagram: @sincere_solutions
Link Tree: linktr.ee/JLWalker

I’m a dietitian. And my favourite food is chicke

I’m a dietitian. And my favourite food is chicken wings. Yes, chicken wings. But not just any chicken wings – my Dad’s homemade, succulent, soy-sauce infused, finger-licking, roll-up-your-sleeves and get-ready-to-dig-in chicken wings.

It wasn’t until I reached my twenties when I realized just what my Dad’s chicken wings symbolized in my life. I had bought a new house with my high school sweetheart, moved in together, and was planning our wedding. I had also started my first job out of grad school. Life was great! I had everything I ever dreamed of! And then it all changed.

One late night, just two months prior to our wedding date, I found out that my fiancé was cheating on me. I found love letters and pictures of the other woman.

I felt so ashamed. I lost every bit of my self-confidence. And I fell into a mild depression.

Eventually, I found the strength and courage to carry on and moved back in with my parents. My mom was incredibly strong and supportive, repeatedly reassuring me that things happen for a reason. My brothers welcomed me home with open arms.

My dad on the other hand, said nothing throughout the entire painful ordeal. But he didn’t have to. Because on that cool June night when I returned to my parents’ home, sick with heartache, I found my Dad’s gift of support.

There, on the kitchen table was a big bowl of his chicken wings. They were just sitting there waiting for me, like an old friend with open arms. In an instant, I burst into tears and gave my Dad a hug. This was my Dad’s message of love. It was his way of comforting me and telling me that things would be OK. It was his way of saying, Welcome home to your family; stay as long as you need to.

When I think about it, food has always been my dad’s language of love. It is this simple, yet beautiful expression of love through food that Dad carries with him wherever he goes.

He didn’t have to teach it to me. I saw it. I felt it. And now, I live it. My Dad’s passion for food inspired me to become a dietitian and to speak his language of love in the same way.

#UnsinkableHumans

Reminder that we’re all living unique lives and

Reminder that we’re all living unique lives and moving at different paces. Don’t worry, your time will come 💛

Thank you @douglas_lumsden for sharing this beautiful message!

#UnsinkableHumans

Thank you Damon for sharing your story with us 🧡

#UnsinkableHumans

Better Help @betterhelp is making professional cou

Better Help @betterhelp is making professional counseling accessible, affordable and convenient - so anyone who struggles with life’s challenges can get help, anytime, anywhere.

They offer access to licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists (PhD / PsyD), marriage and family therapists (LMFT), clinical social workers (LCSW / LMSW), and board licensed professional counselors (LPC).

We are happy to offer our Unsinkable community 10% off for the first month with the code "unsinkable".

Visit the link in our bio to find out more! 💛

I was the wearer of masks, masks that defined many

I was the wearer of masks, masks that defined many roles in my life: daughter, sister, aunt, wife, caregiver, career woman, but none of these masks exemplified the person I was on the inside.

My story: Corporate Job, Big Company. I was proud of that job, it felt like a badge of honour. Until it wasn’t.

My life outside the job felt like an afterthought. I could not recognize myself in it. I was tired, bored, grumpy, living each day on auto pilot.

I was tired, bored and grumpy because I was yearning for a better way to interact with myself and with the world around me, and I knew the job I had would never enable me to do that. My job was not who I was.

This realization was a game-changer for me. I started down a path of self-exploration that ended with becoming a certified life coach and embracing aspects of myself that I did not even know existed before. This was not just about changing my job; it went much deeper than that.

I dropped all my masks. I aligned to my values which is one of the most important things I did, because every decision I make now is grounded in what I know is right for me.

Why am I telling you this?

Because I see You. The You hiding behind your masks. You want more for yourself, but you are not sure how to go about getting it.

The way out of this cycle is to change what you think about yourself and how you show up in the world. By opening yourself up to experience a deep transformation that makes you a priority enables a reconnection to your multi-dimensional self and an awakening to the possibilities that await you.

It’s time to throw away the masks that you are hiding behind and give yourself the permission to embrace who you really are because you are absolutely amazing. There is so much more to you than the masks you wear each and every day.

Don’t wait. You deserve to live your best life right now.

#UnsinkableHumans

Thank you Damon Jones for sharing your Unsinkable

Thank you Damon Jones for sharing your Unsinkable story with us! 💛

#UnsinkableHumans

I (Mike Haddow) have been coaching Canadians as a

I (Mike Haddow) have been coaching Canadians as a personal trainer for over 20 years, helping people get into better physical shape and giving them the tools to lead healthier, happier lives. I have found that much of this work is mental: you must maintain a positive outlook about yourself and your situation if either of these things is to change or improve.

Have you ever experienced a gut feeling about something? Had “butterflies in your stomach” before doing something scary, or exciting? Been sick to your stomach after receiving bad news? These are real sensations generated by the gut!

Negative emotions and stressful thinking can absolutely contribute to gut disruption. Excessive sugars, refined carbohydrates, lack of exercise, lack of digestible nutrients, lack of sunlight, and over exposure to environmental toxins all contribute to poor emotional and physical health.

But there is hope. With a diet rich in whole foods, we can make significant improvements in our overall state of health our bodies for optimal health.

It’s not possible to remove all environmental toxins from life, but you can start with what you can control.

Here are some examples of foods and nutrients that help promote a healthy gut and, as a result, a better mood:

💛 Magnesium rich foods: bone broth and dark leafy greens
💛 Fermented foods: sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and apple cider vinegar
💛 Omega-3 rich foods: salmon, walnuts, and chia seeds
💛 Prebiotic fibre rich foods: chicory, garlic, onions, leeks, and asparagus
💛 Supplements: Magnesium, probiotics, L-theainine, ashwagandha, and CBD

Things to avoid:

▶️ High sugar content foods: soda, juices, sweetened coffee drinks, candy
▶️ Refined carbohydrates such as white bread, white pasta, and pizza
▶️ Excess dairy coming from factory farmed cows (grass fed is substantially better)
▶️ Excess of omega 6 oils: canola, vegetable, peanut and soy oils.
▶️ Lifestyle toxins such as smoking and consumption of alcohol, recreational drugs.

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To read Mike's full story, visit the link in our bio!

✨ UNSINKABLE COMMUNITY CHAMPION SPOTLIGHT ✨

✨ UNSINKABLE COMMUNITY CHAMPION SPOTLIGHT ✨

Hi, my name is Ryan. I’m an award winning mental health speaker and advocate from Ottawa, with a focus on men’s mental health and redefining masculinity. I also have a podcast called Life in Red (@lifeinredpocast).

In 2012, I made an attempt to take my own life. Since that moment, I been focusing on wellness and living my life with intention and purpose.

In 2015, I shared my story on social media for the first time. After receiving overwhelming support from family, friends and even strangers, I started to use my social media presence for education, expressing vulnerability and reducing stigma surrounding mental illness.

In 2018, I started a community initiative through my job at 2 radio station to raise money for Do It For Daron at The Royal and Sit With Me Shelter Dog Rescue called “Cause4Paws”. This helped launch my public speaking journey and amplified my voice in the mental health community in Ottawa, and across Canada.

Since then, I continue to use my platform to speak about mental health, toxic masculinity and being an ally. I give interviews on radio, TV, Podcasts and YouTube channels, and am more than honoured to be in the Unsinkable Family.

Here's some fun facts about Ryan 🎉

Favourite book: Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series.

Favourite snack: Chips and salsa.

Favourite quote: "If you know the way broadly you will see it in everything." - Miyamoto Musashi

Theme Song: Without Fear - Dermott Kennedy

"I am brave. I am #Unsinkable."

"I just love to help others and do good deeds...It

"I just love to help others and do good deeds...It improves someone's day in many ways and gives them a lift." - @jims_smile_project

Thank you James for sharing this beautiful message with us!

#UnsinkableHumans

There is such a thing as toxic positivity and tryi

There is such a thing as toxic positivity and trying too hard to mask pain with positivity. I'm terrible at this.

I try to meet each negative thought with an equal and opposite. It works temporarily in terms of functioning through day to day life, however, there comes a time when we have to “take our shadow out for a cup of coffee”.

When I wrote the first draft of my novel last year, I spent about a month writing the writing that doesn't end up anywhere: interviews with each character. These pages didn't end up in my draft, but they were essential to the story.

Our shadows, often consisting of the darker thoughts and personas that we experience, have to be treated as an essential part of who we are and the story we are writing for our lives. Sit with this character, write to them, talk to them and get to know them. 💛 - @mik_brew

#UnsinkableHumans

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