Encouraging one another

This morning, I got an email from Michelle Wilson, a Speaking Positively advocate in Winston-Salem, NC, about the shootings in Newtown, Conn. “This story touches me in all kinds of ways,” Michelle said, “especially talking about mental illness. For me, as mother of six who lives with an illness and suffers with illness mentally and physically, it reminds me to strive to help others and encourage others that they can overcome most obstacles."

Michelle has demonstrated her passion for helping and encouraging others by speaking up about her status and HIV/AIDS issues, whether she’s being interviewed in The News & Observer or meeting fellow advocates at the International AIDS Conference. “I want everyone to come together in unity to stop the stigma and stop the epidemic,” she says. “And we need to start with our youth because youth have a lot of struggles, and they don’t know where to reach out."

Also in my inbox this morning was a message from Alicia Diggs, a Speaking Positively advocate in Greensboro, NC, who was sending me an article in The Business 101 Magazine about her ministry, I Will Live. I Will Live connects people facing many types of adversity – physical, mental, emotional, or psychological – and provides a supportive community online and at events in the Greensboro area.

“Though you may speak to one person or a thousand people, you can make a difference,” Alicia says. “You can help the next person to see that they can overcome this.”

Michelle and Alicia’s emails, and the posts by many of you on Facebook, sending thoughts and prayers to the families in Newtown, reminded me that the first step in our work to fight stigma and change policies is reaching out to each other in adversity and understanding that our struggles are connected.

As Michelle said, “If we the people of the world come together, talk to one another, and encourage one another, we’ll have an AIDS-free state, and then an AIDS-free country, and then an AIDS-free generation will be possible.”

How does the fight for the rights of the people most affected by HIV/AIDS connect with other struggles in your life? Share your thoughts in the comments.