I’ll take the open sky, fresh air, and manual labor over a crowded gym with stale air and artificial light any day.
Strong body, strong mind, strong soul.
How I shoveled my way to better mental health…
Processing Grief Through Physical Work When I sold the tiny house I lived in for 8 years and had it hauled away, it left behind a raw, disturbed space full of holes. I felt ready for the change, so I didn’t expect the grieving process that hit me post-move.
In the two weeks after the house went away, I battled lower energy and mild depression, and had more panic attacks than I had experienced in quite a while.
Seeing the raw, disturbed site every day had been unpleasant. After a particularly intense panic attack, I decided to process the grief through manual labor. I set about the task of restoring harmony—righting the physical world while internally re-balancing and healing.
The Work and Workout For a couple of hours, I threw myself into shoveling dirt into a wheelbarrow, dumping it into the space where my house was, raking, and reshaping the landscape.
As my therapy, I took a Sawzall and cut the stubs of the pressure-treated and cedar posts that once supported my house and porch. I carried concrete footings and blocks that were strewn about. And I moved wheelbarrows full of the red clay dirt that had been dug out to make way for the steel beams.
I worked every muscle group—core, legs, back, arms, chest. The movements were diverse and on uneven ground, forcing me to balance and adjust. I love this kind of exercise.
The labor not only strengthened my muscles, but it was cathartic for my mind and nervous system. This activity was necessary for me to feel more resolved with the process. A part of letting go. Balm for my nervous system.
My sweet dog Daisy joined me and her presence buoyed me. She’s always curious about digging projects and happy to help!
Healing the Land, Healing Myself I envision an herb and wildflower garden there in the future. Something that will honor the site where I experienced a ton of peace, harmony, solitude, and personal growth. I’ll have a bench there looking out on the creek, the view I used to have from my porch.
Building Resilience: Body, Mind, and Soul I’m grateful that I did the work today to shore up my nervous system and build resilience, both in body and mind.
Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one. – Bruce Lee
Tools that work to overcome anxiety and panic. Explore my Interactive Nervous System Regulation Guide or download the free PDF to start resetting your baseline today: