The Backstory
A fine collection of moments in time featuring photographs, etchings, and journaling.
— intense, tenacious, genuine, bipolar–
My Personal Struggle with Bipolar Disorder
A Better Place to Be
A long time ago, I heard a song that contained the phrase: a better place to be. Through the years, I didn’t remember what song it came from or even the basic story in the lyrics; except, I gleaned that this phrase is about looking and wishing for a place that would be better than the present. When I said these words to myself they became an expression of my recurring feelings: a desire to find a place or future that is better or different from the one I have. These are feelings that especially arise when I am in the midst of dealing with the worst of my Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression).
In December of 1996, I did an Internet search on the phrase, a better place to be. I found a copy of the lyrics that I originally heard on the radio back in the early 80’s. The song is by Harry Chapin. A copy of the song can be found on these CDs:
- The Gold Medal Collection
- The Bottom Line Encore Collection
Currently, I think a better place to be has a lot more to do with acceptance of self, taking care of one’s self and facing responsibility… rather than looking for an escape in a hobby, a wild pursuit or an actual physical place. A better place to be can mean striving for health and stability. (Unfortunately I don’t have a magic wand to bring everything into perfect balance.) This task is a very individual journey.
