IT IS ALL ABOUT HELPING OTHERS.

I have had such a good day.  It is wonderful when you can share your to help another.  Six months ago, my friendand her husband took in his mentally challenged nephew who is also affected by Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia.  This young man was living with his father and a disabled uncle who it appears was abusing him.  His mother died when he was a toddler and he was raised by an aunt who is bipolar and barely keeps it together herself.  It is very sad to think of his life up to this point.  Nothing was taught, nothing expected, his check from Social Security really the only thing that was needed by the two previous caretakers.  I will call him James.

James has come a long way in the last six months, and I have helped my friends in getting him to a new psychiatrist, finding a psychologist (which he has never had!), figuring out what caused his problems and listening a lot.  In addition, my friend was just diagnosed bipolar as well and her medicine is still not adjusted correctly.  I never thought that I would appreciate being blessed with Bipolar Disorder; however, my experiences of the past 20 years have been amazing in helping my friend and James learn to deal with the disorder and strive to achieve stability.  A funny twist is that, for a period of time, I did not drive and my friend was a cab driver.  She cut me a deal on the rate since I used her services exclusively and frequently.  That was 11 years ago.  As we rode around together, we became fast friends.  Almost four years ago, I bought a car and shortly after that she was struck with transverse myleytis.  She is no longer able to work, and does not have a car.  I am now the "cab service" for her and for James.

 

The message from all this is that over the past 20 years there have been many people who have helped me with my struggle with bipolar disorder.  The way to pay them back is to "pass it on" by helping someone else.  I am forever grateful to have the stability and opportunity to do so.  Have a blessed day.

SUPPORT

There are few people in this world who hold my interest.  I believe it is because they are unbiased, have not been ruined by society, march to a different drummer and, mostly, can understand  what it is like to be me.  If you are the round peg in the square hole and you have found someone with whom  you have a totally comfortable relationship, tell them.  It is the greatest of compliments because, chances are they are a square peg in a round hole.

WHAT I KNOW ABOUT BEING DIFFERENT

Being different...the highs and lows....Bipolar Disorder

I have many favorite quotes, but my most favorite is “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. “ Pericles

I have been thinking of writing about my life and thoughts, high and low  points.  Here is a start:

Life is definitely a journey, not a destination…and those little detours, off- the- map visits, interesting points we delay just to enjoy a moment in time, all make up who we become. So do the breakdowns, complexities, struggles, stumbling blocks and obstacles . . .how we handle this “ just dust in the wind” also determines the me that exists.

But just for kicks, let’s add another twist. Suppose you always felt different, the square block in the round hole: You don’t think the same way and expectations…perfection in the grandiose!

Relationships are never consistent…often ending painfully because you just couldn’t alter that wonderful person you are….you couldn’t compromise if it meant giving up part of you…because that would be suicide of the soul.

Communication! Oh what a difficult thing that is, even among those who “fit” and share common interests.   But when you apply different meanings to the same words, thoughts, sentences… it is really remarkable that even basic necessities get met. Unfortunately, sharing of ideas with these “different” people is most often disappointing, at best. …. And what a shame that is…. Who knows what brilliance might be obscured in what they have to say. Not to mention the difficulty they face in trying to understand the rest of the world’s hidden meanings.

But, most of all, if you keep your eyes open, your expectations to yourself, you will be amazed to discover that very little is what it seems…especially people.