Yes, you can!

by Liora Davidov
(Jerusalem, Israel)

As a fellow survivor of Bipolar (and Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder and Depression and Full Blown Psychosis and whatchamacallit (I can't remember the rest but I'm pretty sure that the docs at them 13 psychiatric hospitals I spent time in have them on the records), well I'd say the thrust of this article is one that I promote ardently.

"'How did you do it?', they say in wonder. We thought we'd find you in one insane asylum or another until evenin' dawns upon your days. We thought you'd be crazy. We thought you'd be dead."

"But here you are, looking gorgeous and radiating health. There you are biking up and down these heavenly Jerusalem hills like your energy's never gonna let up. Here you are proudly wheeling a stroller with that towheaded little boy with the round blue eyes that never misses a joy filled siting of anything that that has within it the breath of life and your little girl's skipping happily at your side with her wavy brown hair done neatly in two straight braids just as she likes it. We thought you'd surely have to give them up. They'd have to be raised by another. But lo and behold, there they are holding your hands, smiling into your loving brown eyes now brimming with life where once the tears flooded their depths."

"How did you do it, they say? It must be a miracle. Why, it's an open miracle!"

And that it is. But miracles often need a little helping along and God helps those who help themselves. (I know this is not a particularly religious site and I'm not prostelyzing here, just offering my own perspective). Which brings me to the junction where Ken's article interstects with this spontaneously created little peice. The man can't write a bad piece on mental health far as I'm concerned.

Personal responsibility. Underline that. Engrave it in gold. Frame it in solid marble. Or better yet, embed it gently into your heart. For that is the key. No, you won't get better with some magic potion, or magic pill. No, you won't get better simply because you want it to happen so very, very badly. You'll get better, if you use the depth of that want as fuel for your efforts. You'll get well if you try.

I will share a wise old Hebrew saying with you, one of my many favorites: "Ain Davar Ha'omed Lifnei Haratzon". Now in English: "There is nothing that stands in the way of willpower". Nothing. Not Bipolar. Not Shmipolar. Not Major Clinical Depression, not Pervasive Psychotic conditions. I am living testimony to this.

And with effort and willpower you will be too. Don't be intimidated if you cannot even see to the top of the mountain, for all the heavy clouds shading your eyes. Just take that first step. And then take another. And when you slide backwards now and again, as we all do, don't be discouraged. Just keep going. Remember, each time you slide back a bit you're still higher up on that mountain. It's a wondrous process. It's a Godly process. It's a doable process. And it's a gift. Let it happen for you.
Attached are original photos of Jerusalem mountain views that I have captured with my Kodak. Enjoy!
Peace, strength and healing,
Liora Davidov, Jerusalem, Israel