At its worst, exercise can feel like a chore. But sometimes it can be a lifesaver.
Exercise — whether it's moving your body in dance, hiking, lifting weights, playing softball, or walking in a park — can sometimes help you in unexpected ways.
It might turn around a health problem or help you work through an incredibly difficult time, or help you find the social support you need in a strange and unfamiliar city.
We want to hear about those times when exercise was more than just a thing to do because you know it's a good for your health. Tell us your story and we may include it in a future BuzzFeed story.
Maybe there's an activity that helped you work through grief.
Or one that helped you to discover some fundamental truth about yourself, or to manage stress so that you could continue to function.
Maybe an unexpected medical problem — prediabetes, back pain, or high blood pressure — got you motivated, and you feel happier and more empowered because of it.
Or maybe you found something, like boxing, strength training, or hiking in nature, that made you feel stronger and less afraid.
Maybe you used exercise like a tool — among others — to help you cope with depression.
Sometimes exercise is just a thing you feel like you are supposed to do. But other times it's more meaningful.
Share your story — and any relevant pics — in the comments below and it might be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed News article.