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Wambui for More Magazine The following is Wambui's response to an article that appears in "BP magazine" Winter 2010 edition. The article is entitled "Where Are They Now?". The magazine ran a profile on Wambui in the Winter 2005 issue. Wambui agreed to be interviewed again for a follow-up article. Below is the article followed by Wambui's response. Wambui's profile from "Where Are They Now?" New York City entertainer Wambui Bahati, 60, has found a new way to tell her story: a memoir about living with bipolar disorder. She’s proud of herself for getting the manuscript completed and into print. “And the best part,” she says with a laugh",is that my ex-husband still speaks to me.” In finishing You Don’t Know Crazy, which she self published in January 2009, Wambui says she learned that she has the fortitude to finish something despite seemingly overwhelming odds. So far, she says, she has sold about 400 copies of her book. She continues to share her story through her autobiographical play Balancing Act, which she performs for colleges, mental health agencies and other clients around the country. She also presents a show on domestic violence and does motivational speaking. She relies on a raw diet and meditation to remain stable, but says medication played an important role in her recovery. “I believe that my life was saved many times by pharmaceutical drugs,” she says. “I believe there is a real place for them, just not with me right now.” Wambui, who lives in Harlem, says her moods are “relatively stable. I have had a few minor meltdowns, nothing that lasts more than an hour or so.” She adds, “A lot of people I know perceive me as a little wacky. In the past, that would have bothered me because I wouldn’t have wanted anyone to think of me as abnormal. Now, that doesn’t bother me. It would bother me if you thought I was disrespectful or mean. “I accept that I’m different. That is what I am. And I just go with it.” Wambui's Response: Because of the way this article is chopped-up, and because it contains many sentences and quotes out of context, it does not represent me. [New York City entertainer Wambui Bahati, 60, has found a new way to tell her story: a memoir about living with bipolar disorder.] The book is more than about living with bipolar disorder. It is a book about thriving in spite of bipolar disorder and taking charge of our lives and moving beyond bipolar disorder. It's a book about taking our dreams off the shelves and dusting them off and considering all the possibilities that exist in our lives. It is a book that explores in many ways how we are all re-acting to the insanity that is around us - in our environment, government etc. Next, let me clear up this statement about my ex-husband: [“And the best part,” she says with a laugh", is that my ex-husband still speaks to me".] While my ex-husband and I are friends, the fact that he speaks to me is certainly not the best part of my life – or, the best part of anything. Are you kidding me??? [In finishing You Don’t Know Crazy, which she self published in January 2009, Wambui says she learned that she has the fortitude to finish something despite seemingly overwhelming odds.] While writing my book was certainly a challenge, I already knew I had "the fortitude to finish something despite seemingly overwhelming odds." I have had a successful theater career. In 1997 I wrote (and still perform) an award-winning one-woman musical called Balancing Act. My CD, Crazy for Me - How I Got Over Bipolar Disorder and Other Life Stuff was recorded in 2006 and is available at online stores that sell CDs. I wrote and first performed a one-woman show called I Am Domestic Violence in 1998. I still perform this show all over the United States. I have written and performed many custom shows for various organizations. I have spent days and nights in airports when my flights where delayed or canceled, but I always made it to the events where I was booked and have always given audiences an uplifting and powerful presentation. The full title of the book is never mentioned. The title is You Don't Know Crazy - My life Before, During, After, Above and Beyond Mental Illness. [She relies on a raw diet and meditation to remain stable, but says medication played an important role in her recovery.] Stable??? I believe that the food we eat and meditation are two of the many things that can help all of us remain healthy. While I do believe that medication saved my life on more than one occasion. Medication DID NOT play an "important" role in my recovery. It was after reading about and discovering other - more natural - ways of healing my mind and body that I got well. I had hoped this article would focus on all the really positive things I shared with the interviewer. Instead, this article places emphasis on the fact that I said medication saved my life and how wacky I am. There is no mention of the thousands I've brought joy, inspiration and hope to over the past few years. There's no mention of how absolutely wonderful I feel these days. This article doesn't share that I also said I have not had medication of any kind since 1997. (With exception of medication I took when I had a dental procedure done.) I don't believe that medication over the long term is the solution to mental and emotional issues. We've got to get to the cause of those issues. We often hear the phrase "defining moment". Well, after reading this article, I've had a defining moment. It's time to move straight ahead and focus on all that is wonderful in my life and on my magnificence. It's time to focus on generating new streams of income. It's time to show and teach by example. I'm starting a brand new chapter that doesn't include any more interviews about my mental health past. (If Oprah calls, I might re-consider.) I will be 60 today (January 26, 2010) and I've never felt so healthy and happy in my life. If you want to know my real story then read my book, You Don't Know Crazy - My life Before, During, After, Above and Beyond Mental Illness, listen to the CD Crazy for Me – How I Got Over Bipolar Disorder and Other Life Stuff or read one of the several articles I've written that are posted at ezinearticles.com The greatest secret is how powerful each of us is. We are easily given medication but not the tools that will allow us to tap into our innate wisdom. If we only knew who we really are and what we are capable of . . .
"The Thresholds' Staff Development Day Conference” November 8, 2006 Chicago, Illinois 2006 Statewide Summit on Homelessness and Housing The Road Home: “Under Construction in Kansas” October 26, 2006 Wichita, Kansas Download PDF file here October 7, 2006 Download PDF file here Phoenix, Arizona Download PDF file here Download PDF file here Download PDF file here Download PDF file here Download PDF file here Download PDF file here Download PDF file here You will need Adobe Reader (the latest version is recommended) installed on your computer in order to open and read the PDF files. You can get Adobe Reader here (a new window will open so you can download without leaving this page). If you want to open the file in your browser window, you can just click on the link. More Wambui Bahati Press Room Items Please enter the Password. |
