Gratitude — Let exercise lead you there.

Anyone who suffers depression knows how painful it can be.

It hurts, not just in the mind but it hurts you physically also, like a sickness.

The mental pain becomes physical.

You suffer.

Your body slows.

The motivation to just move disappears.

You stay in bed even though you know that staying in bed will make you worse.

But exercise helps — it truly does. I have been at the lowest of the lows and for whatever reason, have been able to push my self to go for a run.

If you are reading this and you are depressed then please push yourself as hard as you can to do some exercise — it will help. It slows down your mind as when you push yourself, you will start to concentrate more on the physical hardship you are trying to overcome and in turn the ruminations and the punishing thoughts will start to become less so — less punishing and less repetitive and there will be windows where you can start to see a little more clearly.

The sunshine will start to shine through those windows. When it does, take time to be grateful for what you have. It’s easy to focus on what you do not have and impossible to focus on the positives when the windows are clouded but when the sun shines in then let it shine on what you have. Make the most of this time.

Whilst running yesterday, I ran past someone who was being helped with their struggle to take a few steps to where they were going. They were happy though — smiling and laughing with their carer. I can run. How lucky am I? I have worries about so many things but I can run. I can still run. I can still be happy.

Push yourself and take time to exercise and give yourself that opportunity to be grateful. There is so much that you have and so much you have to give.