When we’re low there can be such a strong desire to resist the things that are good for us, and which might even be the cornerstones to our health. I can find a score of things to do before the dreaded exercise and then, having done the score of things, there is no time left.

I made myself walk to the dry cleaner. That suit wasn’t going to walk there itself. I so nearly took the car but I had strong words with myself. Talked to myself kindly and said if you don’t want to lose that working body then you’d better move that working body… and added in some sweary words for good measure, in case I thought of answering myself back.

What would I have missed if I hadn’t walked:

- Choosing the right road - I picked the one that was just right, not too narrow, not too busy, but the one in the middle which is wide and quiet. 

- Listening to a new audiobook when the sounds on the main road became too irritating.

- The mood lift when I got to the shop and met the wonderful lady behind the desk who had clearly had a rough day and was a diamond of a woman. If I’d driven I’d have dashed in and out.

- Walking home on the road with the Esio Trot flats.  If you haven’t yet seen Esio Trot (book by Roald Dahl) then I can recommend it – it’s a light film with Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman and always makes me feel like I’ve fallen asleep in sunshine outside. These flats aren’t the real flats, they just remind me of them.

- Home, perfectly sweaty, with something to write.

Low mood needs action. It doesn’t matter what, anything will do. 

Love from

The room above the garage

A Moodscope member