Readers out there? Check out a bookstore (or library).

So… thinking back on my days when my depression diagnosis was at its worst and I recall one thing that often cheered me up quite a bit. Going to a *physical* bookstore. My depression peaked in my late teens and in those days I could not get enough of the self-help section of Border’s or Barnes & Noble’s. There was once a major Barnes & Nobles downtown in the major city I lived next to and it was gratifying for me to get up and make a day trip just to go to the bookstore there. It was a large, quiet, calm, and relaxing space which smelled of brand new books. A serene place amongst the busy of the city outside it’s doors. I learned a lot on my trips here. I never had to actually purchase these books as in these days there were couches and comfy chairs and many people would come just to read books all day. I was so very introverted in these days and just the pleasantries of casual excuse me’s, pardons, and thank you’s were very encouraging to my then shattered self esteem. I never told anyone about my literal secret hideaway, it was something that became sacred to me. The library was also another stand in. These two places gave me a lot of peace of mind over the years and really helped me remember who I was. For some reason in the mind numbing deep depression, books were one of the only things I could recall which I preferred and which I did not. And seeing how the bookstore and library do indeed typically make it quite user friendly to do so it was wonderful to realize, “Hey! There are things I once loved and still love!” Or, “Wow! I found a new interest!” Besides self teaching myself regarding my depression diagnosis I also discovered a lot more. At times I almost considered it a part time education of sorts because I was far too socially anxious at the time to invest in college. It truly is a wonderful world and I do encourage you if you are reading this and experiencing depression to at least try this idea. Literally anything and everything can be discovered. From the self-help psychology I found, I also found a lot on travel, foreign language, world history, even “The Similarian” by J.R.R. Tolkien. There truly is something for everyone. Kama Sutra and ghost and star signs. You will find something! Hope this bit of advice brings someone out there some relief! Hugs & stay strong. You are bigger than your demons!