Once I became a Power Rocker for Rock My Run, I decided to listen to as many of the Rock My Run mixes as possible. My romp through the mixes landed me at Phenomenal by DJ Rolemodel yesterday.
“I like rap and hip-hop” is one of those things that always ends up on those “things people would be surprised to know about me” lists. Not the misogynistic or profane which, admittedly, rules out many selections. But the beat, the musicality, the dynamic of the music. This was a great mix which left me with a serious earworm of Choices by E-40.
Choices contains plenty of misogyny and profanity but even so – it is catchy and immediately captured my imagination and made that few minutes of my run go by fast. The song goes back and forth between “nopes” and “yups” such as:
You still sell dope? (nope)
Now you cleaner than a bar of Dove soap? (yup)
Anyway, that’s the one relatively clean example I could give on my family-friendly blog! Watch the video if you want to get the full effect.
NOW … what I really want to talk about in this post is Tuesday, which is A Day With HIV. I had an opportunity to do some social media shares via a blogger campaign, but this cause is so personally important to me that I want to use my blog space to highlight the day beyond what the campaign required.
A Day With HIV is an anti-stigma photo campaign from Positively Aware. This year’s event will be on Tuesday, September 22, 2015. Here’s what Positively Aware says:
On 9/22/2015 people across the world, whether HIV-positive or negative, will visually capture and share a moment of their day – A Day with HIV – to focus attention on what it means to live in a world with HIV.
My involvement with this issue started back in the late 80s, when I was a counselor/supervisor on the first Florida AIDS Hotline. At the time, I answered the hotline and supervised the counselors because it was my job. Now, almost three decades of life experience later, my allegiance with this cause is a part of who I am, not just something I do (or did …) as a job.
In order to participate in Mama Kat’s writing prompt linkup this week, I decided to try to do a few E-40 style lines related to Tuesday’s Day With HIV. (One of the prompts is “write a blog post in exactly eight lines“.)
Don’t worry — I am not going to try to sing my eight lines!!. They may make you scratch your head, they may make you laugh … I don’t know. My goal is, though, that you’ll say “yup” to posting a selfie on Tuesday!
For More Information:
Visit this website: www.adaywithhiv.com
Visit the Facebook Page here.
Visit the Twitter Page here.
Visit the Instagram Page here.
Note the project hashtags: #ADayWithHIV and #StopHIVTogether

Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
What an innovative way to declare some awareness! Well done. HIV is one of those diseases that held headlines and fear and stigma for years and now because it is less deadly, less attention is granted. Thanks for shining a spotlight.
When I think back on those early years, it really is AMAZING how far we have come (although obviously there’s still a long way to go). If I had not HAD to talk about HIV and hear the fear in people’s voices, it would have taken me a lot longer to get to where I am now, I think. I am so grateful to have been in that place at that time.
Such a great cause to get behind Paula! I’m off to share.
I really appreciate that, Rena!
Hi Paula! I too am attempting to share info about this important day but am no where NEAR as creative as you have been with this post. Good for you. I also have been fortunate to know a number of people who have been diagnosed with HIV but still manage to live a happy and fulfilled life. Far better to get tested and treated that pretend it isn’t happening. Only then can positive steps be taken to turn it around. I’ve heard some REALLY positive news about treatment but until then, let’s stop the shaming and celebrate that life can be meaningful and full no matter what! #AdaywithHIV #StopHIVTogether
Hi Kathy. I can’t thank you enough for your enthusiastic response. A friend shared an article with me yesterday about a 10 year old who is HIV+. It was affirming from the standpoint of all the adults in her life who are making a difference and heartbreaking because she lives with this challenge through no fault of her own. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/local/2015/09/18/telling-jj-shes-10-she-has-hiv-this-is-the-moment-she-learns-the-truth/?tid=sm_tw
As a microbioligist, the trajectory of HIV quickly invaded my radar. I volunteered at a House for AIDS affected children. Some of the bravest kids I ever met.
I can only imagine – thank you for commenting ….
This is great.
Stigma hurts everyone that’s for sure. I love this cause and that it’s helping to raise awareness and educate. Even though it has been around for such a long time there is still so much that people don’t understand about the illness. I am an RN and you’d be surprised at how some of the older RN’s wouldn’t want to work with patient’s who came in to the ER who were HIV positive. It’s all about education people.
Good job!!
Thank you. I really appreciate your comment!
What an amazing cause to align yourself with. Wonderfully done!
Thank you! 🙂