the world's most famous bricklayer

Britain's greatest PMs surprising practice.

Winston Churchill is a man of many adjectives.

Pop over to his Wikipedia page. Along with mentioning him as one of Britain’s greatest Prime Minsters, he’s remembered as a historian, painter, politician, military officer, writer. But there’s one thing missing.

Bricklayer.

It wasn’t uncommon to find Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill outside, smoking a pipe, boots covered in mud, laying bricks.

Churchill was so devoted to this practice that he even joined a local bricklayers union as an honorary member in 1928. At times laying 200 bricks a day.

This begs the question.

Why was Britain’s most powerful man laying bricks in the mud?

His answer: to keep “the Black Dog” at bay.

Like many of us, Churchill was plagued with bouts of depression. Days would come when the heavy of fog of despondency would descend on him.

On days like these, Churchill wouldn’t sit idly and let the dog continue biting.

He’d step outside into the sunshine — or British overcast— and get moving. Brick by brick, he’d build his walls, letting continual motion become his homeostasis. Brick by brick, the dog’s bite would ease.

Churchill knew what many of us are learning today.

Motion is often the best medicine.

As Allen Levi writes, “motion is lotion.”

Or as George Mack writes, “depression hates a moving target.”¹

When we get moving, things get better. Our actions shape our emotions. Our physical life reshapes our thought life. And it doesn’t matter what the motion is. Be it bricklaying, biking, running, walking, pottery, painting, or ice-picking, it just has to work for you.

So remember this the next time you’re feeling down or just emotionally off.

Remember Churchill and find your own bricks to lay.

1. George Mack made this comment on a Substack note specifically about Churchill’s practice of bricklaying. This sent me down the rabbit hole of learning about this practice and writing this post!