Hi, how’s it going for you today? I hope it’s going well.

I read this quote the other day: “The pursuit of the dream means more than the dream itself.”

I know how it can relate to life in general: Have you ever taken a long trip? Have you ever heard (or said) the expression, “Getting there is half the fun”?

Cruises are a good example. There is more time spent on the water than on the land, wherever

you choose to visit. So they make it fun to be on the boat. They have activities that you can

enjoy, like shows and other entertainment. Because getting to that port can be just as fun as actually arriving at the port.

I know this couple who live in Tennessee (U.S.), but every few months they take a trip down to

Florida (U.S.). They always drive down. They take their time, and they always say that quote, “Getting there is half the fun,” because they stop in out-of-the-way places just to see what’s there.

So how does this relate to bipolar disorder?

Well, I can’t say that “Getting there is half the fun…” Because I know what a serious and life-threatening illness bipolar disorder can be. You know I take it seriously. I never said that bipolar disorder would be easy to handle. But I do always say that if you do the right things, you should at least be able to achieve stability with the disorder. And that’s the goal: Stability.

So, say your dream is to have a stable loved one. And you have other dreams – like maybe taking that cruise. Or traveling by car like that couple I told you about (who both have bipolar disorder, by the way). You are going to have some bad times, I won’t lie to you. But you can have good times as well. So the dream is to have a stable loved one and to someday do the

things you’d like to do.

Well, “the pursuit of the dream means more than the dream itself,” so the saying goes. Take joy in the little things along the way. Be glad for your loved one when they cross a milestone in their growth. Rejoice in every day that your loved one is not in an episode. And, even when they are, ride out the wave – it will be over sooner than you might think.

When you help your loved one to accomplish things toward their stability, you can feel satisfaction. Even if they do go into a bipolar episode, if you’ve prepared for it ahead of time, it won’t be as bad. There’s a lot of learning that occurs along the way. And, hopefully, by weathering these storms together, it will make you closer in the long run. That’s the pursuit.

Being closer is just a by-product of the pursuit of stability.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave