Whatever you didn't do before being HIV positive , heres a chance to have a second try.. This is the time where HIV can work for you or against you. Let it work for you and embrace it and let it become part of your makeup. fully accept your HIV status and find support from people and you will excel in every area of your life.

Never allowing HIV to dictate who you are or where you want to be in your future self. Remain positive and optimistic, stay away from negative people who thrive on other peoples misfortunes.

Staying undetectable is key for me

For me, I found being boldly open about my status has gone a long way. Outside of work, I am quite open about my status. Doing so, over the years, has resulted in a number of random strangers reaching out to me asking for help... The kind of help that only someone who has been diagnosed can offer.

I've gotten everything from "Help! I've just been diagnosed, and I don't know what to do!" to "I just got with someone, then they told me they're HIV+. What do I need to know?" I'd rather have people with honest questions come to someone like me and ask these kinds of things out of curiosity to properly educate themselves than to run in fear of what they don't know like so many people do.

So really, for me, it's all about being out there and being that safe person that people (even complete strangers) can reach out to for information. The only people who can truly advocate for us and help stamp out stigma is us... the ones who truly understand, as we live it.