I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder in November of 2013, a little over ten years ago. Against all odds, I never felt ashamed nor did I ever feel the need to hide my diagnosis from anyone. To the shock of many, I have been completely open about it since day one. The story of my life is complex and nuanced, as are all life stories. And my identity is multifaceted and multidimensional, as are all identities. I say this now because even though everything I am about to write is about my journey with bipolar, I want to be clear that the diagnosis is not something that defines me nor is it the most important part of who I am. Yes, it has shaped me in many ways and it has profoundly affected my life, but it is in no way all of me.