The walking cure

I quit my successful job in 2018 in order to try and find myself, but it made me lose myself instead.

I fell into a deep depression and was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. I’d known ever since I was a teenager I suppose, but didn’t want to bother the doctors.

Between September 2019 and January 2020 I was at an all-time low, after not been able to hold down jobs and finding daily mundane tasks a struggle. I couldn’t recognise the person in the mirror anymore and I’d lost all hope. But it was then, doing our weekly shop, I spotted Country Walking, was instantly drawn to it, and saw the 1000-mile challenge. But there was no possible way I could do that! I instantly put it down and carried on shopping.

But all the way around the supermarket all I could think about was the challenge. And I felt a sudden rush I hadn’t felt in a long time, and wanted to face it – to push myself and achieve something to be proud of. I went back and put it in my trolley, put the chart up on my wall and planned out how

I would go about getting my miles. I am not going to lie, the first walk I did I wanted to give up straight away, but I pushed myself through the agony and and achieved three miles.

Twelve weeks into the challenge I am now at 246 miles! It’s lifted my spirits, challenged me and most of all gave me back some purpose. Walking is something I wake everyday wanting to do. Thank you for helping me find my free-spirited nature again!

Bianca Sadler, Email