Like I said already, I completely agree that it is a part of who we are. Have a cold doesn't shape our personalities, but having bp does. Especially since it is a lifelong thing. Even something like diabetes can sometimes be managed to make it go away. You know, people who get it from poor diet\ exercise can change those things and reverse the disease. Bp is for life, meds can manage it but can't make it go away. I don't think that something that is that ingrained can be said to not be a part of who you are.

I also agree that it can be easier to manage if you just accept it. It's a part of you, so just take it and run with it. I also think it is easier to share knowledge about it that way. If you embrace it, it is easier for other people to accept it as part of who you are, as opposed to something you caught. I firmly believe that the more positive you are about it, the less likely other people are going to look at it as a negative thing. Not to mention I think it is less likely that people will make it worse for themselves by trying to fight against it instead of just riding out the highs and lows.