A reflection on rest, grace, survival, and finally allowing yourself to sit down and receive. 🌙

Ridiculous things/people dribbling down my timeline. If only I had the money some of these people have! A portion of what they have, but nah, I’m good! If having money causes you to act the way some of these folks act, don’t want it.

That saying is oh so relevant for me, these days: “once you find your peace, you’ll do anything to keep it.”

Went outside to get a breath of fresh air and see the neighbors have installed a flag on their house. 🙄 my God. 🤷🏾‍♀️ too close, but at least they’re up front about their predilections. Speak and keep it moving.

Setting up for Saturday evening cinema. Finna knit my way through a movie and tend to my pots on my stove.

That’s as far as my mind needs to be. And it is enough.

Oh! You know what is beautiful tho? All those people protesting. Glad we are holding strong.

I remember the promise made over three decades ago: #KeepThePromise —a commitment to finding a vaccine, ending the stigma, and eradicating HIV. While we haven’t fully achieved those goals, we've made incredible advances.

Many of us living with HIV are now undetectable, which means the virus in our bloodstream is so low that it cannot be transmitted. This is a profound victory, but it's only part of the story.

Living longer is a blessing, but it also comes with new challenges. As long-term survivors, our bodies carry the weight of years lived with this condition, often alongside other health complications. And while medical breakthroughs have extended our lives, they haven’t always addressed the emotional and societal toll. The stigma is still real, isolating, and harmful. We’ve come so far—but there’s further to go.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I reflected on the parallels between these crises. We, the HIV community, have long been masters of protecting ourselves—through advocacy, awareness, and resilience.

Those same survival skills carried many of us through the isolation and challenges of the pandemic. Still, this dual weight takes a toll on both our physical and mental health.As we continue to wait for a cure, I invite everyone to act now:

• Get tested: and know your HIV status.

• Practice safe connections: not just physically but emotionally.

•Educate others about HIV, undetectability, and the importance of empathy.

To my fellow long-term survivors: Take care of your mind, body, and spirit. We’ve been protecting ourselves for decades, and our endurance is a testament to the power of resilience. Together, we continue to advocate, educate, and fight stigma.

HIV is still here. Still hanging around. But so are we—stronger, wiser, and more determined than ever.

Blessings to all as we mark another day, every day, living with HIV.

Let’s keep the conversation alive and the promises intact. ✌🏾

I am contributing to groundbreaking genetic research that seeks to uncover one of the most intricate mysteries: where and how the HIV virus hides within the body. The purpose of this research is to gain deeper insights into the role our genes play in this disease and to understand how genetic variations might influence people's responses to different drugs and therapies.

Our DNA, often described as the blueprint of life, holds the instructions for every cell in our body. By decoding and analyzing these blueprints, scientists aim to shed light on the relationship between our genetic makeup and the behavior of the virus, opening new doors for innovative treatments and potentially life-changing breakthroughs.

As part of this research, yesterday, I underwent a procedure called leukapheresis. This process involves separating white blood cells from my blood, which are then used for detailed study. Leukapheresis is a vital tool in research like this, as it allows scientists to collect specific cells that may hold the key to understanding how the virus persists and interacts with the immune system.

This research is not just about understanding the virus—it’s about bringing us closer to more effective, personalized approaches to managing HIV, and perhaps one day, finding a cure.

The staff in the clinical research unit are top notch and aside from a few hiccups, (blew out a vein) everything went smoothly.

That sense of being ‘whisked away,’ ‘carried away’, caught in a seamless flow, captures my morning perfectly! I woke up (a lil late mind you 🥴) tackled everything around the house, hopped into a Lyft (shoutout to my trusty vet buddy), breezed through traffic-free roads, and arrived here effortlessly. Signed in, got my first sample done, to check my hemoglobin, before being sent downstairs.

Everything feels aligned with uncanny precision, as if guided by something beyond me.

Hasn’t that been my life? All things aligned with the Universe.

To this moment.

Perfect 🤩