When I was first diagnosed in the marines I set out to overcome my Bipolar condition and be successful in life . What I found was achieving 2 degrees with honors and 17 years as a counselor, kids in private school beautiful house, awesome wife who is a therapist etc seamed like I achieved great success but sometimes getting out of bed, showering, doing a few loads of laundry, transporting my kids are all as awesome and we all need to see the reality of our difficulties and that we try our best. Today I celebrate my successes great and small and remember what I deal with is very real and challenging so I need to adjust expectation from times of depression, manias, and in between. Success is doing my best.