What if one of the most powerful acts of courage isn't something extraordinary—but simply choosing to live another day?

In this deeply personal episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with nurse educator, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate Pakesta Washington for an honest conversation about living with bipolar disorder, breaking stigma, and finding hope after a lifetime of struggle.

Pakesta's story begins in childhood, growing up with a mother who also lived with untreated bipolar disorder. Witnessing suicide attempts and mental illness at an early age shaped her decision to become a nurse, driven by one heartbreaking question:

"How do I save my mom?"

Years later, Pakesta would receive her own bipolar diagnosis. Instead of allowing it to define her, she ch ...