Im a lucky man. I have so much to be thankful for. All my needs are met. Decembers 30 days march in once again, and the Grand Marshall of the parade is World AIDS Day. For me, December 1 is a day to remember the departed, a day to recognize the struggles of those living with HIV, and a day to commit to help educating those who would stigmatize. Like so many others, Ive lost count of the number of people taken by this disease who were at some point part of my life. Some I miss terribly. Others I barely remember, so tenuous was our contact. It can be painful, but they all matter. Today I must also celebrate those of my friends who are hard at work to fight the stigma of being HIV+. They lead by example. They educate. They live their lives with dignity. Without them, there would be no hope. Hope. Perhaps no one longs to have it more than the chronically ill. Today I recommit to doing the small things that may help someone living with HIV have hope for a better tomorrow. A smile. A kind word. A random act of kindness. A ride to the doctor. An invitation to a meal. Those things meant the world to me when I went through my cancer battle. Time to pay it forward. I can do that; Im healthy. And for that I am so grateful.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Dec 2013 17:38:06 +0000