A Road Paved With Good Intentions
As I was working on my “About Eldon” post this evening, I had a revelation. I tend to get a lot of them when I sit down and write or type. Before I proceed, I ask that each and every member of this forum to release their hidden anxieties and clear your minds and view this topic with an “open perspective”.
After you have finished reading this topic, I also ask that each and every one of you to submit your views on what was read in this topic. Let us all make every effort to avoid taking this topic out of its perspective. There is a message that is being delivered here to each and every one of you. As far as the negativity is concerned:
“If you don't have kind words to say to the members that respond in this post, please DO keep silent.”
THE PURPOSE
The main objective of this thread is a direct attempt to clarify and to unify the very membership of this forum.
THE WORLD OF HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS is a GLOBAL pandemic. In the span of the past (25) twenty-five years there has been a number of deaths because of it. There are millions of human beings that are “aware” that they have the incurable virus. Then there are millions of human beings that are “unaware” that they have the virus. Each and every one of us here are “aware” that we have been infected by the virus.
As a result most are affected both mentally and physically by the virus. There are a number of long-term survivors who are members of this very forum. During their journey in this life, there have been a lot of things that they have coped with over the years. In fact, there are some ailments that are being coped with this very day by our long-term survivors that we are “unaware” of. While dealing with these ailments, it becomes very difficult to accept this in their lives along with the aging factor as well.
In short, the long-term survivors are dealing with it the best way they know how to. In fact, some do take a moment of their day to share their experiences with us in order to deliver a message to us but to also help them cope with their situation just as well. With their messages they are indirectly asking for our support. To the long-term survivors, it is clearly understood that it is a struggle that you are dealing with each and every day of this life. You are not alone in your battle. We are here to support you and to encourage you. In the midst of the situation, a certain degree of irritability exists because of the inner anxieties that are being stirred up due to the “know” or “awareness” of these ailments.
For a word of encouragement, this is the time where you need to grab a hold of your inner strength and your inner courage within you. It is there, it is just covered up with all of these external anxieties. It is a tough challenge to do so when you are being pulled in every different direction in this life. That is completely understood. All I am saying just DO your BEST to grab a hold of it by the reins. Just give it a try and you will find that inner-peace will follow behind it.
As part of my “About Eldon” thread, it had come to my “awareness” in August of 1990 (16 years ago) that I was tested for HIV and I was positive. How this was found out was through a routine blood test that was administered by Blue Cross/Blue Shield. I was told the news in the parking lot of my job! On top of that, it was at lunch time! Following the breaking news, left in a state-of-shock which had altered my state-of-mind, I had to go back into the office on the 8th floor and face all of my co-workers and my bosses to finish working the remainder of the day. Do you want to talk about tough? That was tough. I am thankful to the Great Divine, Yes God. That I was able to reach within me and find my inner strength and my inner courage to make it through the day. It was tough to keep a smile on my face and a positive attitude when I had this automatic inner anxiety which was triggered by the external anxiety of being infected with HIV/AIDS. How am I doing? I will follow-up with that in the other thread that is being created.
What I am trying to say to the ones who are going through and when it is tough and you are uncertain of the outcome, there is a very high possibility that if you DO take a deep breathe and look within, your courage and your inner strength…it is there. I am a living witness from my personal experience! In fact, it has been there all of the time!
Further, it does not have to be doom and gloom if you are HIV positive. In fact we are the very ones who select which type of programming that we will have for our minds. Yes, we do.
A fact: You decide how you feel.
A fact: You can’t have a feeling without a thought first.
A fact: Your brain has no choice but to believe what you tell it.
A fact: The brain cannot distinguish between a real happening and an imagined happening.
Again, it is clearly understood that it is an extreme challenge to someone who is trying to cope with these ailments the BEST way you know how to. This very message today is to SHARE with you and ENCOURAGE you during our current battle with HIV/AIDS.
Yes, I DO have bad some bad days. In fact, we all DO. When this happens, I refuse to allow a negative thought or anxiety to take over my life. The moment can be brief or it may last for a few hours. However, I make it my business to DO something in order for me to shake that bad mood off of me. There are a number of things that I DO so that I can improve where there is room for improvement.
FOR THE NEWLY DIAGNOSED
HIV/AIDS is a shock to many of us. In fact, it is a tough pill to swallow. Some may say that it is not. However, deep within you behind the scenes, it is eating you alive like a cancer with the external anxiety which has caused your internal anxiety to go hog wild. This may apply to some, but not all. With my initial experience or “awareness” of becoming infected with HIV. I took me a moment to get-a-grip on what was going on in my highly successful life. To comfort and re-assure my strength within, I immediately disclosed to my parents, brothers, and my sisters. I also share with you that it has helped me tremendously with my current support system.
Inside of me I knew that this was an incurable virus. I had to accept that first. I did. Then I understood what could or could not be as a result of this. Then, I communicated it with my family, some friends and my Doctor. The answer is no. I did not go on meds in the beginning. I just started meds this year of 2006. Through it all I have never gotten sick. Yes, I am very thankful. Again, more of me in the other thread that I am working on. This thread is about US. Straight, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Lesbian, Transsexual and others. HIV has no respect of person.
So to the newly infected, education, learning from others experiences, taking care of yourself, avoiding self-destructive behavior, acceptance, communication, and understanding in this is all KEY to this life.
TREATMENT
In the earlier days of treatment, the pharmaceutical companies did not have the kind of treatment that is available to us in this day and age. A lot has changed over the years and in the future things will change just as well due to the unheard of research that is being done on our behalf and the other HIV/AIDS survivors that are on clinical trials.
If you are taking anti-viral medications, please DO adhere to what the Doctor has prescribed to you. It is important in order to maintain an certain level of your medicine in your system. Just take a moment and give thanks for viral load suppression. Yes, a reality.
Aidsmeds.com was facilitated by Peter Staley. As I perceive this site, (again we all have a different perspective, if you have read this far you Do have an open perspective) it was developed with the vision of giving persons in this World who are “Living With HIV/AIDS” an outlet or a “supportive” type atmosphere as well as provide us with the educational part of HIV/AIDS. It just makes sense. This I am also thankful for. Yes, I am.
In a “supportive” environment, each and every person has the right to come to share their experiences in this life and to aid others on their journey by giving constructive feedback rather than destructive feedback or alternative motives of the unknown nature. On this very site, there are different people (white, black, brown, Latino, Straight, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Lesbian, Transsexual, Celibate) with different perspectives (how it is seen through the eyes of the reader), with different personalities, with different backgrounds, and such.
In an environment as such, as one member stated today in a certain topic; “There should be NO DIVISION or SEPERATION of this body, the Aidsmeds Support forum”. UNITED, we will all stand and make an impact in this life, and DIVIDED we will fall by the way side, as such others will leave the site for various reasons.
In NO TERMS should any member of this forum receive a “personal attack” or be “singled out” for whatever the underlying motive it is to Do so. In all essence, putting a person out there be ROASTED for no valid reason at all is a disgrace to the old and new members of this forum. A prime EXAMPLE HERE…is Jesus. The son of God. He was sent here to clean up the mess that had been made by man himself after the Ten Commandments were written. In fact, he came and he HEALED the sick, he raised the dead, walked on water, fed a multitude of people with a few fish and some loaves of bread, and did nothing but HELP each and every person that he could with their troubles. Even the blind man was able to see once again.
What I am saying here in this EXAMPLE is that when the World was in trouble, he came to their aid to HELP and did what he could to make the situation better. He ENCOURAGED and he SUPPORTED and he remained POSITIVE through it all. He handled it in a MATURE fashion. He was HELPING others out of the goodness of his own heart when he did not have to do so. But he DID in spite of all of the persecution and rock throwing at him. He even gave his very life to be nailed to an old wooden cross for all of the people! His own did not even receive him and he was doing these GOOD works and changing everyone’s life that he came in contact with. WHY? Because he wanted to HELP THEM!!! In fact, he HELPED those who wanted to HELP themselves.
Again, I used this as an EXAMPLE to each and every one of you. Help me to understand WHY you would want to nail someone to the cross if all they were doing was trying to HELP YOU? That does not make any sense to me at all.
As far as the NAME calling and the slanderous remarks in an attempt to defuse or to degrade a person is totally uncalled for. It does NOT make any sense. We are all ADULTS here and we have been through a hell of a lot of different experiences in this life and the LAST THING anyone would want after coming to seek “support” is to receive this kind of treatment to them.
Negative statements is totally unnecessary. If you have a comment of such even if it is a disagreement, by all means please DO share. That does NOT mean that it has to be made with a negative foreign nature to it. A lot of people take things the wrong way and it is often misunderstood. There are bound to be disagreements. On this forum is extremely helpful to have a good clean debate.
There should NOT be a criteria that is set for you to voice your own opinion here at the forums. Freedom of speech. When in disagreement, try to be constructive with your statements, it helps the perception in a mighty way. In fact, this entire thread was written in a constructive manner in an attempt to get the message delivered.
Again, this should NOT turn into a Oldie versus a Newbie challenge here. UNDERSTAND THAT EACH AND EVERYONE OF US ARE HERE BECAUSE WE ALL ARE HIV POSITIVE IN THIS LIFE!!!
I do my Damnest to suggest rather than dictate. It all boils down to YOU and YOUR choices that YOU make based on YOUR perspective.
If it is NOT CLEAR, then ASK for a clarification rather than assuming the person’s intentions. Again, this topic is a SUGGESTION to all of the members here at the forums. If applied, you will be surprised as to the POSITIVE outcome of this. No one should need a lawyer in order to state their case here.
The door is now open for YOUR constructive FEEDBACK. Please try to stay on the topic. Thank you for your attention.
Make the BEST of each Day!