This time of year, there are so many things going it’s enough to drive you crazy. Okay, not really crazy, but the closer we get to Christmas, the more people deal with depression. And it’s no wonder!

Just like traffic out on the highway, most of the time people hum along at the speed limit or faster, trying to stay on the road, navigate other traffic and do what they need to do every day. But then the holidays come along and everyone has to shift up a gear.

But I just read about a new method of fighting depression that actually sounds like it might work. It’s called Bouldering. At first glance you might think this means taking a trip to the crazy Colorado town of Boulder. For some people that would get rid of their depression immediately because they would be so glad to get out of there and come home that depression wouldn’t stand a chance.

But that’s not what it is. Bouldering is actually a form of rock climbing. It’s done close to the ground, so you don’t need harnesses or ropes. What you do is simply climb over, around or through a series of boulders. But it takes balance, strength, flexibility and intense concentration. You can learn more about it online, but basically Bouldering is a way to tune out the world for a short time while you climb. Then it’s just you and the rock, and if you beat the rock, you come out feeling great! 

I think it’s smart. At least it’s not some new drug they’re trying, it’s real back to basics physical therapy. Of course, not everybody has the time to climb over rocks, but if you look around, there are other ways to improve your strength, flexibility and concentration. 

For balance you might hide in the bathroom and stand on one foot with your eyes closed. For flexibility you might climb over a few corrals, even if you could go through the gate. For strength you might carry a bag of dog food around. Carrying dog food can be customized to your specific needs. If you are older, it can be a small bag. If you are younger, it can be a big bag. If you don’t have a dog, take a bag over to your neighbor. After all it’s Christmas, they won’t know that you are simply working on building your muscles.

Intense concentration can be achieved by reading the small print on a legal document. You will either sharpen your brain or fall asleep. Either way it will look good because you will be reading a legal document so everybody will be impressed. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not making light of depression. It’s a real thing, and it’s tough on many people. But often a good way to battle it is to tune out the world for a while by doing something totally different. 

So, if you see someone carrying around a bag of dog food for several days in a row, be nice to them. They may be depressed, but at least they are battling it! They are doing “Regular People Bouldering”! They are doing their best with whatever they have! 

Then again, maybe they just have a hungry dog…