There is a book called ‘The Scarlet Letter‘ that most American schoolchildren have had to read at some point. It takes place in Boston back in ye olden Puritanical times, and the main character Hester Prynne has committed the sin of adultery. She is forced to wear a scarlet ‘A’ upon her chest so all may know her shame, but instead of withering at the condemnation of her neighbors, she exhibits a quiet pride and lives a life of meaning. I feel that many people who have bipolar are afraid to admit to it; they don’t want to lose friends, or jobs, or have people know their ‘shame’. I don’t think having bipolar is shameful. It is merely a part of who I am, and as such, I am proud to wear my ‘B’.