--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wrote a show - just as a joke, actually…" description: "\"I wrote a show - just as a joke, actually - and called it 'Bipolar, Bath, & Beyond,' just to bring some humor to it. I wasn't saying to myself that I'l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/jenifer-lewis-9983_bipolar_i-wrote-a-show-just-as-a-joke-actually-a_2736729.jpg" --- # I wrote a show - just as a joke, actually - and called it… ![“I wrote a show - just as a joke, actually - and called it 'Bipolar, Bath, & Beyond,' just to bring some humor to it. I wasn't saying to myself that I'll 'come out' with it - I didn't think there was anything to 'come out' with - I was just writing another one-woman show about my life.” quote by Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/jenifer-lewis-9983_bipolar_i-wrote-a-show-just-as-a-joke-actually-a_2736729.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/jenifer-lewis-9983_bipolar_i-wrote-a-show-just-as-a-joke-actually-a_2736729.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/jenifer-lewis-9983_bipolar_i-wrote-a-show-just-as-a-joke-actually-a_2736729.jpg) > “I wrote a show - just as a joke, actually - and called it 'Bipolar, Bath, & Beyond,' just to bring some humor to it. I wasn't saying to myself that I'll 'come out' with it - I didn't think there was anything to 'come out' with - I was just writing another one-woman show about my life.” [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Using humor to confront mental health, the creator transforms personal experience into a relatable performance. **In simple terms:** Humor helps discuss mental health. Key Takeaway Share stories with humor to destigmatize. Themes mental health humor self‑acceptance storytelling Mood candid empathetic Type comedic educational When to use this quote - therapy groups - stand‑up workshops - public talks Key Concepts comedy personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How does humor affect stigma? - What boundaries are needed? A Different Perspective Risk of trivializing serious conditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bipolar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bipolar/) [Bipolar Bath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bipolar-bath-2996374/) [Called Bipolar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-bipolar-2996373/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Just Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-writing/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [My life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-life/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Wrote Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrote-just-1430525/) ## Related quotes > [I have not been an easygoing guy. I think it's called bipolar manic depression. I've got a rich history of that in my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-have-not-been-an-easygoing-guy-i-think-it-s-called-bipolar-manic/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [“The way the diagnosis is being made in America was not something we intended,” he said. “Kids with extreme irritability and moodiness and temper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/the-way-the-diagnosis-is-being-made-in-america-was-not-something-we/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [A poem I wrote: I was just that little girl, who was in the park on day, I was just that little girl, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akila-sultana/a-poem-i-wrote-i-was-just-that-little-girl-who-was-in-the-park-on-day/) [Akila Sultana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akila-sultana/) > [“I began to write again. I wrote just for the fuck of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-leebron/i-began-to-write-again-i-wrote-just-for-the-fuck-of-it/) [Fred Leebron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-leebron/) > [I had been a hurricane all my life. And that was, of course, because I was bipolar and did not know it. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/i-had-been-a-hurricane-all-my-life-and-that-was-of-course-because-i/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [“I never really chose to be a writer. It's just always been what I do. Writing chose me...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-russ/i-never-really-chose-to-be-a-writer-it-s-just-always-been-what-i-do/) [Té Russ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-russ/) > [I'm writing new music all the time. I'm just not writing pop stuff. It's not my goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-m-writing-new-music-all-the-time-i-m-just-not-writing-pop-stuff-it/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I began just writing poems and then fell in love with the form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-muench/i-began-just-writing-poems-and-then-fell-in-love-with-the-form/) [Simone Muench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-muench/) > [“You can only write what you know if you've lived, otherwise, you'll just be writing words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-eastwood/you-can-only-write-what-you-know-if-you-ve-lived-otherwise-you-ll/) [Joseph Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-eastwood/) > [I was very in my own head as a kid. But I liked it there! I was just writing poetry, writing stories, writing plays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-parks/i-was-very-in-my-own-head-as-a-kid-but-i-liked-it-there-i-was-just/) [Arlo Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-parks/) > [I'm often just writing just to write. I'm not writing with...If I write, like, sitting down with a goal in mind, it's always, like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/i-m-often-just-writing-just-to-write-i-m-not-writing-with-if-i-write/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [I've just been writing stuff down as it comes to me. I haven't thought, 'Let me write some major opus here.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-ve-just-been-writing-stuff-down-as-it-comes-to-me-i-haven-t-thought/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I made the choice not to have children, so I can spend my days just writing; there are no kids demanding my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/i-made-the-choice-not-to-have-children-so-i-can-spend-my-days-just/) [Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/) > [“No, I am just writing this because, sometimes, you’re still all I have to write about. Sometimes you’re the only thing that my typewriter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moriah-pearson/no-i-am-just-writing-this-because-sometimes-you-re-still-all-i-have/) [Moriah Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moriah-pearson/) > [I throw ideas out into the open when I really should just be writing them down in a journal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/i-throw-ideas-out-into-the-open-when-i-really-should-just-be-writing/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) ## More by Jenifer Lewis > [“And, I want other women to know they can stand up and MUST stand up to your persecutors. Feel the fear, and do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/and-i-want-other-women-to-know-they-can-stand-up-and-must-stand-up-to/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [“Every now and then I would still fuck up with the people I loved the most. And they loved me enough to tell me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/every-now-and-then-i-would-still-fuck-up-with-the-people-i-loved-the/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [Love yourself, so that love will not be a stranger when it comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/love-yourself-so-that-love-will-not-be-a-stranger-when-it-comes/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [I've been burn when it comes to my hair that it ain't no joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/i-ve-been-burn-when-it-comes-to-my-hair-that-it-ain-t-no-joke/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [Creativity does not stop just because you're over 50. Hollywood spits female actresses out after age 29, but you don't stop creating. If anything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/creativity-does-not-stop-just-because-you-re-over-50-hollywood-spits/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [“I go inside. I become Ruby Johnson. I deliver my first line. Within seconds, I hear the sound I’d been listening for all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/i-go-inside-i-become-ruby-johnson-i-deliver-my-first-line-within/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [I sang in church at 5. When I saw the reaction, I knew what I wanted to do with my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/i-sang-in-church-at-5-when-i-saw-the-reaction-i-knew-what-i-wanted-to/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [If you just want to be a star, go away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/if-you-just-want-to-be-a-star-go-away/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [I never gave up. I never quit. I've been a leader all my life, from elementary school to president of my class to excelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/i-never-gave-up-i-never-quit-i-ve-been-a-leader-all-my-life-from/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [I still go to a salon where a gal does my hair, and I don't know if it's because I'm a celebrity but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/i-still-go-to-a-salon-where-a-gal-does-my-hair-and-i-don-t-know-if-it/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [It's important to e alive in those moment, especially when you're doing something you love to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/it-s-important-to-e-alive-in-those-moment-especially-when-you-re/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [Sometimes I think I take on a lot of work but that's me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/sometimes-i-think-i-take-on-a-lot-of-work-but-that-s-me/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [You are a black goddess when you come out the salon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/you-are-a-black-goddess-when-you-come-out-the-salon/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [I don't have any beauty shop memories. I remember the barber shop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/i-don-t-have-any-beauty-shop-memories-i-remember-the-barber-shop/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [I was gifted at birth with this talent, and I've tried to honor it all my life. And I did - through hell and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/i-was-gifted-at-birth-with-this-talent-and-i-ve-tried-to-honor-it-all/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) [Explore all 68 Jenifer Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) ## More Bipolar quotes > [Sometimes labeling is only useful, like with OCD. Once you're labeled you can be treated. On other occasions labeling leads to tyranny, like with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/sometimes-labeling-is-only-useful-like-with-ocd-once-you-re-labeled/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [Society takes what it wants. The artist himself does not count, because there is no actual existence for the work of art. The work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/society-takes-what-it-wants-the-artist-himself-does-not-count-because/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [It's more common than not that bipolar illness will start in the teens. One of the reasons I spend a lot of time on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/it-s-more-common-than-not-that-bipolar-illness-will-start-in-the/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [Every seventeen minutes in America, someone commits suicide. Mostly, I have been impressed by how little value our society puts on saving the lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/every-seventeen-minutes-in-america-someone-commits-suicide-mostly-i/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [Madness is to think of too many things in succession too fast, or of one thing too exclusively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/madness-is-to-think-of-too-many-things-in-succession-too-fast-or-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Flippin up my phone, touch screen motorola. They figured I was bipolar the way I sipped that syrup and soda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riff-raff/flippin-up-my-phone-touch-screen-motorola-they-figured-i-was-bipolar/) [Riff Raff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riff-raff/) > [“Creativity is closely associated with bipolar disorder. This condition is unique . Many famous historical figures and artists have had this. Yet they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preeti-shenoy/creativity-is-closely-associated-with-bipolar-disorder-this-condition/) [Preeti Shenoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preeti-shenoy/) > [Ordinarily he was insane, but he had lucid moments when he was merely stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/ordinarily-he-was-insane-but-he-had-lucid-moments-when-he-was-merely/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [I was hoping that I could say stuff about mental illness that maybe people didn't know. You know, speak up for bipolar disorder and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-millegan/i-was-hoping-that-i-could-say-stuff-about-mental-illness-that-maybe/) [Eric Millegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-millegan/) > [I have never gone for a diagnosis and I don't consider myself to be bipolar, but I have extreme moods. I get heightened. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-quentin/i-have-never-gone-for-a-diagnosis-and-i-don-t-consider-myself-to-be/) [Caroline Quentin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-quentin/) > [When you're depressed, you know, it's like the world has ended. Even getting out of bed takes the most massive amount of effort. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/when-you-re-depressed-you-know-it-s-like-the-world-has-ended-even/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“I thought I would inaugurate a Bipolar Pride Day. You know, with floats and parades and stuff! On the floats we would get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-thought-i-would-inaugurate-a-bipolar-pride-day-you-know-with-floats/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [I just always wanted to study human behavior because every psychologist that I would talk to would tell me I was bipolar, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-gates/i-just-always-wanted-to-study-human-behavior-because-every/) [Kevin Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-gates/) > [“Insomuch as the structure of this book parallels that of my own mind, it boasts about as much order and linearity as a hallucination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-moezzi/insomuch-as-the-structure-of-this-book-parallels-that-of-my-own-mind/) [Melody Moezzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-moezzi/) > [“In our family "whim-wham" is code, a defanged reference to any number of moods and psychological disorders, be they depressive, manic, or schizoaffective. Back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lovelace/in-our-family-whim-wham-is-code-a-defanged-reference-to-any-number-of/) [David Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lovelace/) [Browse all 373 Bipolar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bipolar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wrote a show - just as a joke, actually - and called it 'Bipolar, Bath, & Beyond,' just to bring some humor to it. 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