I do remember wanting what I currently have and, now I have it, I’m a pretty happy guy.

I remember living in a squat in Nottingham with a bunch of people I didn’t really like. I had no relationship, no money, no job, not much hope. I remember, with laser-focussed clarity, one night in particular when I wasn’t feeling well. Everyone else was out partying and the only thing that stopped me ransacking the whole house and taking every single pill (or other drug) I could find was pure depressive apathy. I couldn’t even be bothered to kill myself.

Now, many years later, I’m married, have kids and a goofball puppy (now I work from home), I own a great house, and I am at the unwinding stage of my career. I’ve recently gone freelance and am currently working about three days per week for almost as much money as I was on before. Obviously work could dry up which would be a pain but my wife’s income is stable and I’m also developing a couple of additional side hustles to help mitigate that risk. My plan is to gradually reduce my workload and slide gracefully into a comfortable retirement over the next five to ten years.

To anyone starting out on their adult life’s path, it’s worth saying that I’ve never had a plan, either for a career or pretty much anything else. I’ve always just gone with the flow and said ‘yes’ to whatever opportunities came along (always, always, always keep your eyes open for opportunities). That, and I’ve always worked hard and treated people well. Sometimes that’s all it takes. Almost every job I’ve ever had came from people who had worked with me before and wanted to again.

And to anyone else who’s living with depression, all I can say is that ‘this too shall pass’, and better times will come.