"Tricia, have you thought about taking a walk in the sunshine?"
"Tricia, I've heard exercise is the common denominator in successful depression recovery."
"Tricia, can you get outside today? Or sit near a window with sunshine?"
When the same message comes to me from multiple angles, it's time to start listening to the messengers.
Insert: sunshine, autumn leaves, playlist, and gentle, easy walk that picked up with the pace of the tunes in my ears.
Pain is a forest we all get lost in.
Between the branches, hope can be so hard to see.
In the darkness, we've all got questions.
We're all just trying to make sense out of suffering,
but
You say I am blessed because of this.
So I choose to believe
as I carry this cross, You'll carry me.
Help me believe it.
Fear is a current we all get caught in,
and in its motion, faith can be so hard to find.
We all falter because we're all broken.
We're all just trying to turn the shadows into light,
but
You get glory in the midst of this,
And You're walking with me.
You say I am blessed because of this,
so I choose to believe:
As I carry this cross, You'll carry me.
And I know Your promises are faithful.
God, I've seen Your goodness in my life.
I've found Your mercy is a river.
Your love is an ocean wide.
You say I am blessed because of this.
You get glory in the midst of this.
And You're walking with me.
- Audrey Assad, Carry Me
Glad to hear many people have the same thoughts. I too am dealing with some depression this past year and have been walking 4-5 days per week, taking in the sunshine and time to either think or not think about issues that are going on in my life.
I hope you enjoyed the outdoors!
michelle
Yes, Yes, Yes. Good for you today, Tricia.
Some days the house (or the floor, or wherever one ends up) is as powerful an anchor to shake as there is. And on those days, it is occasionally enough to turn one's chair into the sunshine and see the world wide again. Other days, a change of scenery is required.
I heard an interesting talk today contemplating the difference between grief and depression. Kay Redfield Jamison had experience with depression and also mourned the loss of her husband.
http://www.loc.gov/podcasts/musicandthebrain/podcast_jamison.html