I Didn't Lose Myself - I Found My Power

Submitted on Jul 9, 2025 by Jonique85

When I was first diagnosed with HIV, I thought I had lost everything—my sense of safety, my peace, my future. I couldn't see past the label. I didn't know what life would be like from that moment on. I was scared, ashamed, and deeply isolated—even in rooms full of people.

But here’s the truth I've learned since then:

I didn't lose myself. I found my power.

I found strength in the quiet moments when I still showed up for myself. I found healing in consistency—taking my medication, showing up to appointments, and choosing life, over and over again. I found courage every time I looked in the mirror and said "You're still worthy. You're still beautiful. You're still you."

Living with HIV doesn't mean I stopped being human. It means I carry a deeper awareness, a deeper resilience, and a deeper responsibility—to myself and to others who may feel like they're drowning in silence.

If you're newly diagnosed, or just having a hard day, I want to remind you: You are not broken. You are not dirty. You are not alone.

You are evolving. You are healing. You are powerful.

U=U. You can still fall in love. You can still chase your dreams. You can still laugh, create, thrive, and glow. You are more than your diagnosis.

I'm not hiding anymore. I'm choosing to live out loud—for the girl I used to be and for the ones who still think they have to shrink to survive. You don't. You can bloom right where you are.

We are girls like me. And we're stronger than we know. #PositivelyMe