"Awakenings"
For six months now, I have been inc...
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God bless you USWalker
Lidica
Friday, February 01, 2008 at 03:46 PMWALKING Cross Country Again?
uswalker
Saturday, February 02, 2008 at 12:14 PMHello Lidica,
Thanks for your reply and kind words. Have I thought about another cross country walk, back to Miami from Seattle, to bring awarness and understanding to the myriad of issues for people suffering from mental illness? - you bet. But as you read in my bio, the walk idea was a minfestation of my condition. These days, I am very careful about my intentions as I don't want to feed the beast.
That said, I'd love to give myself a 60th birthday present (I'll be 55 next month) and walk back!!! We'll see. These days, I am doing my best to complete the last walk, as I believe it will only be completed after I finish a book telling people about what happened and why
The book, of course is not about a 5000 mile walk. The book is all about my lifetime of mental illness and a happy ending, finding a proper diagnosis and help. This is why it has been almost 10 years since I completed the walk, yet could not bring myself to even consider writing the book, in spite of many people askinng me to - because I didn't understand why I did it in the first place and there was no ending??? NOW, I understand why.
I do hope that you believe in your doctor and if not, that you stop at NOTHING until you find the help you need. I have been mi-diagnosed forr over 30 years and suffered accordingly.
Now, that I have been on meds (for BP II) for over a year, and being an artist, I can see that in my manic moments, it was an illusion that I was more creative, it was just more irritability, restlessness and anxiety. I am much more creative with prolonged creativity these days and I don't roller coaster up and down, all around. I enjoy, most days, a calm, consistent rythym to my day, balance. I NEVER in a million years could have guessed this would be possible for me. I am SO grateful that I have been given the gift of sanity on day at a time.
Anyway, thanks again for you support for me writing 'A Long Walk Home.'
God bless us all - we are soooo worth it.
Louie R.
http://rochonsculpture.artspan.com/mbr_bio.php
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I was really inspired by your story. I really encourage you to write your book. Your journey story is not just about your walk but about your life. Both inspire me to keep going.This has been a hard week the last week of a three months depression. I am always scared to death it will never end. Now comes the three months of highs that I like much better. What a blessed relief! They are manageable so most people think I am normal. I wonder have you thought about a walk for mental health awareness. I really need to lose some weight I would love to walk with you (not that far though I would never make it). I know with the highs I always come up with these brainstorms but I was thinking of a walk across America with walks being organized in cities all over America on the same day. From reading the different posts there is definitely a need for more exposure to the needs of those suffering with mental illnesses of all kinds. I know I could never organize it in my city or manage to walk it while I'm on my three months of lows but I definitely could on the high months. I have cycles of three months of lows and three months of highs. I know it would take years to get a walk like this going all over America but everything starts with an idea. From healthcare for people who can not afford it to a way to buy medication.There are so many issues that need to be addressed. I loved what someone said about Normal is just a setting on a washing machine. I am going to get a Tshirt with that on it. As for Normal let me tell you what bipolar gives you...Imagination...Creativity....You can think outside the box with ideas that WOW the normies.(smile) I have not been diagnosed yet but my father lived with bipolar. I was clueless to what he was going through but since the age of 50 I have a great understanding. My prayers are with you to keep you strong and safe as you continue your journey through life. Your description of depression was one that I know all too well.
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