At the beginning...

I can't believe I caved. And I can't believe it was this easy. After years of saying "never" to blogging, here I am... blogging. Why? Long story. Maybe I'll find the words as I grow into this blog. But for now, it's enough to say that I'm doing this to get outside of my skin.

I've been fighting with mild depression for years and I want my life back. Not just the breathe-in-and-out-and-survive-the-day kind of life. The abundant and joyful life. I want to be fully alive in ways that I can't be if I'm depressed. But I don't want to take any meds. I know that medication is sometimes necessary, and I make no judgment against those who take them for depression. It's just that everyone I know who ever has says the side effects are almost as bad (if not worse) as the depression itself. So I'm on a journey to fight back with all the faithful standbys—exercise, sleep, healthy diet, faith, and authentic friendships. And writing. Because while I've never been one to share my deepest thoughts with the unknown masses, I wouldn't be me if I didn't write. And anyway, I've come to believe that there is no such thing as the "unknown masses." There's only me in front of my computer and you in front of yours. I can handle that!

Right now, my exercise of choice is running. Since May 2009 I've been training for my first half marathon, which is coming up in September. Yikes! So, this blog will be about running. About health. About healing. About friendship. About discovery. About goals. About life. Abundant and joyful.

Grace