What makes you feel alive?

[rosetulipdaisy]

I am trying to recover from depression. Recently I have been feeling very flat and numb. I can't remember what activities I like to do, what things get me in tune with feeling something or feeling alive. Either positive emotion or negative. Looking for suggestions please - what helps you?

What a great thread.
The things that do it for me are:

Going for a good walk in the countryside, I love being outside in all weathers.

Getting together with my two oldest and best friends and just laughing and laughing over the silliest things. I'm sure no one else would find us that funny but I love how we know exactly how to make each other howl with laughter.

And I don't do it much any more but I really don't think there is a better feeling than galloping a horse in a big open space.
Nowadays I mainly prefer to enjoy being around them on the ground but nothing beats that yee haw moment of just flying along with the wind in your face slightly out of the saddle listening to pounding hooves.

Cold water swimming but it’s not a good time to start as you need to acclimatise slowly. Something to start in the warmer weather though.

A sauna and steam followed by a plunge pool or cold shower. Repeat.

Running in the rain. Without fail, it totally gives me a buzz! Real euphoria, like this is the point of it all.

Sometimes nature - a beautiful scene, sunset or watching the stars
Having completed something successfully whether that be a knitting project or a complicated puzzle of jigsaw
outdoor swimming always gives me a buzz as does exploring new places

My happy moment was when I'd put my favourite music on so loud in the kitchen (while i was doing dishes) and I just started silly dancing and singing along

Thank god no one could see me! But i felt genuine happiness for the first time in ages. Works best with upbeat happy songs.

The only other time I get the feeling is when drinking alcohol but I'm trying to stop relying on it for everything.

I love this thread,

see I’ve just hit a bump in the road and i started my week off on Monday by waking up at 6:30am dropping my daughter off at the childminders at 07:50 and then I went straight to the park the nicest one I knew and walked around it 5 times. I then went to my grandads and my mums to see them. I went to work came home and by 14:30 I was missing my daughter but still had 2 hours to spare so I just did nothing. My plan is to eventually start running around the park even if I walk 4 laps and run 1 it doesn’t matter. Just looking at the sun and how beautiful my surroundings were made me realise how beautiful life can be.

i also like going to a coffee shop
for a hot chocolate and just going for a drive. I have joined the gym but I’ve not made an attempt to go yet as I only have a Monday and a Thursday child free.

i write lists aswell from what time I plan to get up like my alarm on Monday was set for 06:00am but we didn’t get up till 06:30 and that’s okay so I don’t be too strict on myself. My list will be my plan for the day what I'm doing what I’ve got to do and seeing it all done at the end of a day is perfect.

come off my phone and social media more like give myself a phone free hour or two a day. I deactivated my social media and although I now find myself on mums net a lot more often I feel a sense of happiness that I don’t rely on “social media” to keep me entertained.

i know I want to travel more around this country and further and I know this year might not be the year for it but I will get there.

I think the key to it is is getting out when you need to and just finding the simplest of things to do but also just accept your own company accept your own mind and just take it day by day. I explained to my friend just how hard it is to be around people all day and come home to Nobody is hard so if this is you too please just try and take it day by day and you will get there

Me too.
For me they are often things that are quite expensive and location specific
Riding a horse (I don't have one)
Skiing
But I have recently taken up rowing and this does this too

The photo a day project.
You take a phone photo everyday of something that inspires you.
You can upload the photos to their website and it builds into a log of inspiring scenes.

Birdwatching.

Cup of coffee outside, whatever the weather.

If you're near the coast, sea swimming. Even in January is very uplifting. You'll find a Facebook group nearby, they're everywhere now.

Whilst still in bed, listening to reggaeton

Being by the sea helps me massively - the sound of the waves, the salty smell.
I'm another one who benefits from a good sort out - emptying the cupboards, recycling/chucking out things I don't use, and getting it all in order.

Was there anything you used to really enjoy as a child, OP?

The hobbies we had as children are often the core of who we are.

For me - art, reading, being outdoors, human connection/ spending time with friends. Very simple things.

See if you can remember what you used to enjoy, and do one of those things.

What a beautiful thread. Thank you for starting it @rosetulipdaisy.

For me:
Walking up steep hills
Lifting weights
Roller skating
Laughter yoga
Rolling down hills with my kids
Looking at stars in the silence of night
Playing with the cat
Swimming in a lake or the sea
Sex
Listening to music
Watching birds
Being on a boat

Most definitely live music by artists I love. The atmosphere, the excitement, everyone there for the same reason, singing the same songs. I always take a few moments to look around and take it all in and make sure I am living in that moment. I never take photos or videos, I'd rather just watch. But I always feel bit down afterwards, but know that's how I will feel and make sure I have something else to look forward to. Covid made me appreciate how easily it can all be taken away..