I was born in Jackson, Tennessee. Growing up, my family moved around a lot, and I was given the opportunity to travel all over America. Through my experiences, I feel that I was able to gain a true...ver maisI was born in Jackson, Tennessee. Growing up, my family moved around a lot, and I was given the opportunity to travel all over America. Through my experiences, I feel that I was able to gain a true appreciation of natural beauty. From the time I was a teenager, I knew that like several of my family members, I was suffering from a mental illness. I have now been diagnosed with Bipolar II and am on medication to help treat it. For many years, however, my illness went untreated and I refused medication because I knew it would affect my career. To help me cope with it, I would write down my feelings and speculations about life, love, mania, and depression. I would also exercise a lot. Running long distances always seemed to balance me out when I was having a manic or depressive episode. It seemed to make it manageable, until I had a depressive episode that led me to being hospitalized. I should have been wiser and sought treatment earlier. If I had, perhaps I could have avoided a divorce and many financial problems. But things happened as they did. After it seemed that everything I had ever worked for had been taken from me, I decided to take my writing and my drawings and publish them. I truly hope that you enjoy this book, and also that you may draw some strength or wisdom from the words I have wrote…and the lessons that I have learned.ver menos