My Unusual Amazing Bicycle Ride

[Crankin]

The antidote to depression is social connection.
I say this to every one of my clients. Just when you want to hole up and isolate is when you need to force yourself to connect. Almost 100% of the people who do it say it is hard, but works.
And I don't have to tell you about the mental health benefits of cycling. In many cases, it works as well as medication for both depression and anxiety. I am not anti-medication, but I always try to help people understand how endurance activities and being outside works.

[ny biker]

What a great story. I hope you enjoy many bike rides with your new friend.

[Pax]

What a wonderful encounter! So happy for you that you made a connection, and that you'll have someone to take a ride with.

[north woods gal]

Loved the story, kajero. Thank-you so much for sharing it. I've been there, too (especially riding as therapy), so I know how hard it is to take a chance and trust, again, but it is so very necessary. I regard loneliness as the greatest disease of them all. It's a slow death, eating away at you both physically and mentally. So glad to hear that you are reaching out and fighting it. Good for you, girl.

[emily_in_nc]

That is awesome, kajero! Aren't you glad you took the risk on this man and gained a new friend and cycling buddy!

[azfiddle]

That is a wonderful story- thank you for sharing.

On a possibly related note, this week on PBS news hour and on NPR I heard interviews with Sheryl Sandberg, who lost her husband at age 47 to heart attack. She wrote a book called Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy. It might be something you would find helpful.http://http://www.npr.org/2017/04/25...-whos-grieving