I Read It: Open Heart, Open Mind by Clara Hughes

Open Heart, Open Mind, is Clara Hughes' memoir. I was interested in reading this because she has been very open about her depression and, well, I wanted to know what she had to say.

I had a really hard time wrapping my head around the idea that she was so fucking miserable when she won her two bronze medals in Atlanta. I admire the shit out of that! She trained and trained, she made the podium TWICE, and yet... she was not in the least a happy, fulfilled person. Which just goes to show - you never know what is going on in someone's life.

I think one very important point to take from Hughes' story is that if such a strong woman didn’t realize she was depressed, no wonder depression is under-noticed. Hughes didn’t FEEL strong. She felt worthless. But she was a great cyclist! Who had OLYMPIC MEDALS. Of COURSE she was strong. But in her head, she did not feel strong. Point being, depression fucks with your mind.

I really want to thank Clara Hughes for her honesty regarding her depression, because only by talking more about this disease will it become easier to seek help. Remember: being depressed does not make you weak.