Inspired by My Sisters

A breath of fresh air. "Live in Your Truth". First time I heard that said was Speak Up 2018. Inspired by a young lady, Wanona, who also blogs for A Girl Like Me. My first time as a co-presenter for A Girl Like Me. Thank you so much Krista and The Well Project.

I hear those words echo. I try to find the meaning. Circling round and round.

The stairs grow weak and the train moves on. My sins are mine. Time cannot be replaced … with a million, "I'm Sorrys"; you escape again. Looking for that meaning. "Live in Your Truth." Well to my amazement, right in those words are: hope, joy, birth, freedom. At the time I did not recognize those words touched my soul. I am a hot mess, a beautiful disaster. That phrase stuck: "own your truth" I went through a lot of acceptance of self over this phrase. Things others saw in me I just refused to see for myself.

Back to "Live in Your Truth". What a breakthrough; thank you beautiful sister!

I am passionate yet cautious as intimate partner violence is still very prevalent and very real. Criminalization is also a real thing. We struggle with living healthy with HIV. I am very public yet, like HIV, all others see is stigma, ignorance; and fear; not everyone knows my status. Fishtails to their opinions and lack of knowledge. I had to hide that I live with HIV and had no real reason except fear of violence or prison. 

I am grateful for the patience of my sisters I met at these conferences, teaching me I am valuable. I needed to Live in My Truth to be whole. I took on the challenge. I am looking at me, not my condition. I refuse to fuel stigma. 

I start the next leg of my journey in recovery and self-care with my head high, ready to jump into my restoration campaign for voters in Florida. 1.4 million people can benefit if we vote Yes on 4. I have support and most of all I found acceptance in owning MY truth. Fear not for we are not alone. On the way I learned a lot about voting. I got hands-on involved in some politics. I'm going to take care of myself and do my advocacy. I am owning my truth and turning lemons to lemonade.

I am living with HIV. I am an important part of this fight to #stopstigma.

#myvoicematters #educationnotignorance  #sciencenotstigma #u=u xoxo