Liz, I have a daughter who is Bi-polar and I believe that was my mother's problem. When my daughter is off her meds. It's a frighting thing for those who do not understand her. You are not alone in this and time will probably find even better meds. to reduce or eliminate this altogether. Your openess is quite refreshing and I appalud you for that good friend!

I think that, to a greater or lesser extent, we temperamentally artistic types are rather prone to these kinds of self-scrutiny and analysis, existing by choice, often, in our solitary Ivory Towers of one. It is perhaps the territory of what drives and initiates our fields of creativity. There can be no creative spark without some sort of disturbance - good or ill. Many of us are bi-polar in terms of how we appear - both social, as with us all here, on one level. And loners... as with all us here, at our solitary computer screens!! :)) Wonderful analogy you have painted for us here. I have just turned 50 and can no longer fight the fight of NOT being true to myself, whatever the cost of that might be. I am therefore circling the thermals with you on this one, Elizabeth. Thank you for this thought-provoking piece. Love, Kate xx

YAY a fav poet of mine has written...
Nooooo, never never never regret bipolar. I can give you 100's of reasons. But suffice if the worlds greatest leader over the last 1000 years did not have MD or bipolar, not one of us would be here.
England was about to surrender then CHURCHILL stepped into the breach, a famous author, poet, an ok artist and the best leader, his ideas and bravery came from the days he did not have his "black dog days"

I have a 70 yr photo of a man with bipolar, to who we all owe our freedom. If it's good enough for him then it's good enough for me.

With a new statue of him in Norwich, they said 1 in 6 suffer from BP.

Yet reading watching and being a churchill fanatic, i can see his bp was his power house, he tamed the lions within, to beat, against all odds the germans in the lonely battle of britain. Labels are a myth, from reading many books on him, BP was a gift, and it also made him the great author...nowadays if anyone has a gift, it has to be labelled, if its causing certain problems then ok. That said, the free world would rather a Churchill with BP than without. It gave him the edge over many and insight. His meds were brandy and a cigar, yet even in his 80s he was our leader, when he took office in ww2 he was over 65, most people relax with a pension at that age....Also look at Jim Carey, Rob and Robin Williams and a host of others. I read the brain of which we only use 10% max, peeps with BP use a fair deal more...hence Einstien and others.. And BP peeps have a great sex life....

I bet you have greatness and done great stuff, who gives a stuff what others think...Liz just be Liz, and if the sex is good, here's my number..lolol

Everyone needs to establish their own identity, Elizabeth...you have and On Eagle's Wings is a revelation I'm proud you've made...soaring with diversity lets us mingle with a variety of different feathers, each feather intended for a different purpose - the primary flight feathers, the contour feathers, the downy feathers which insulate our dreams and provide us with continual protection, covert feathers grow along the outward edge of the wing that provide us with lift, and the filoplumes are mysterious, all feathers giving us alignment in archetypal and metaphysical energies...thank you for keeping track of my feathers, too...you're not alone...Blessed Be.

Sage

Acceptance will come even if it's day to day, hour by hour.

George

It may take time but the struggle is worth it. God go with you.

Stated so wonderfully and a most endearing piece it is, enjoyed.....

Be safe,
Karen

A most meaningful write, Liz. Best wishes to you,

Regis

And like the Phoenix, the danger is in flying too close to the sun. Excellent poem, my friend. Be well.

I really liked ths poem. It shows the loneliness and despare others might experience. It is only with courage do they venture and spread their wings to find others. Thanks so much for sharing.

Helen