I've left my favourite and most powerful trick for dealing with difficult times for the last of my Lockdown II blogs.
Ever since I can remember, I've suffered with depression.
Like many people, particularly men, I kept it a secret to start with. Which meant I often felt lonely and somehow ill fitted to the world.
My later twenties were the toughest time, partly because I was fighting with myself.
- I had a great job (BBC News Correspondent / Deputy Editor at the time). I had a lovely flat. Good friends. My health. Plenty of money.
What the hell did I have to be depressed about, I would rage.
Back then I often felt wretchedly miserable, and that life was pointless.
The black dog that Churchill wrote about had vicious teeth, and was a genuine threat to my future.
But then something happened which changed my life.
It was so simple, yet such a profound transformation.
- I started writing.
As a challenge, heading towards 30, I set about trying to write a book.
And ok, it was awful, and it took me a couple more efforts until I came out with something which got published, but...
I noticed the depression had eased.
I had a new purpose. I really looked forward to writing.
And when I wasn't actually at my desk, I would be thinking about the story, and the characters, and working out what would happen next.
Something so simple had changed my life more or less overnight. Wow.
- Why had no one told me about this before?!
Which is why I'm writing about it now. In the hope that my experience might help others.
Since that revelation moment, I've never stopped writing. And what a time it's been.
It's taken me through fiction, non fiction, radio comedy, a play, screenwriting, business communications, speechwriting, and so much else.
I've travelled afar talking about writing, and I've learnt so much about myself and the world, all courtesy of playing with words.
I'll never lose the black dog. It's always there, beside me.
But these days it's been largely tamed and trained, and so much of that because of writing.
So, what was one of the first things I did when the Covid curse was cast upon us, back in March?
(Apart from stockpiling loo roll, of course!)
It was a time when, let's be honest, we were all so very frightened about what was happening.
- I began writing about it.
And it helped me to cope. Just a simple act, but such a support.
You can see some of my diaries, and pictures from the time, on the Covid-19 diary part of this site.
Writing helps you to process, and to learn, like nothing else.
To this day, running my own business, I write down my experiences, both good and bad.
Because it helps me to understand and learn from them.
One final thought for this blog.
If you'd like to talk more about how writing can help you through these days - along with other tricks from some super smart people - we're holding a series of webinars, Connections Through Covid.
Mine is the first, this Tuesday, December 1st at 7.30.
(The ducks are one of the most memorable photos I took back in the first lockdown.)
If you're interested in the webinars, you can book here.
I'd love to see you, and I can say this...
Start writing and you'll never stop - because of the difference it can make to your life.