Wednesday, May 12, 2010
In regards the the "He's the one campaign "
I seen this "He's the One"campaign and I feel that I am in the center of what I think of this campaign.I have read several comments and the reaction towards this. I first want to respond as an educator for over 16 years and then respond to the campaign itself. I have had the great opportunity to talk to people,teach people, gathering their thoughts about this ongoing epidemic(through education and outreach even just through random conversation) that the educational messages about HIV/AIDS doesn't seem to send a state of urgency to the various audiences that need to embrace "YES the fear of this Virus and the realities and responsibilities that come with it", my job as an educator is to put the facts out there,the science,and figure out a way for the audience to connect because the audiences vary so much especially in generation,age or a separateness/disconnectedness towards HIV/AIDS. They never buried friends or sat by bedsides or had an experience to fire up the passion to do something about it. There are four styles of learning-we don't all learn the same way-so this must be considered in designing a curriculum and then factor in the possibility that some audiences I've educated to have various mental disorders,dysfunction or barriers to learning that so many people are affected by and the list goes on.These factors may influence the behavioral choices they make...education can not be just a hour long blueprint of the same old blah blah blah,with the mindset; lets get it done, lets get demographics, lets meet our quota, and then we think they really got it(very doubtful). Lets give HIV AIDS 45 mins of our time and think the audience got it(NOT!).HIV/AIDS deserves the attention and the support it rarely gets since the epidemic began-stigma still is with us.Then opposite to fear you have optimism and the chance these days to survive longer. These life saving drugs that buy us time is a godsend for now but not the end all answer(but right now it's what we have)-I'm not sure I even view the meds like so many people do in a positive light-alot of people think if they do become infected-hell just take a pill or pills and all is good.I've been sick with various health related problems for the last 25 years living with AIDS and buried ALOT of friends/Allies along the way, I was 19, so my perspective may differ from the popular opinion;it is my life experience though and I will be authentic about my own life experience and bring in what I have learned through the experience of others- I deal with HIV/AIDS and do what I can but still the longer I live it's getting harder to distinguish what is a result of getting older and whats HIV/AIDS. I take 16 pills now. meds are and were a part of the reason why I am still here, but so much more went into the mix;like my inner spirituality,listening to my body, my instincts, positive attitude and when I need to feel the sadness or fear that can sometimes accompany living with AIDS I sit with what I'm feeling, worked it out, cried, got angry and whatever else I need to do,then went on. I rarely hold my inner turmoil inside when I am in a difficult place, I let it out,I view it as a cancer that needs to get out in part in order to survive. Okay getting back to the add, yes they could off done it better I agree. I too though believe that if it shook some people up or made a little fear get into them, that's not necessarily a bad thing, fear can be extinguished with education. I do get by looking at the add how it appears but lets face it I know for a fact that people always aren't forthright and upfront about their status and live in denial and have no conviction if they infect someone. I myself am open about my status and don't care if I'm rejected because of it, of course it has hurt in the past but I feel better when I disclose.So in this day and age when infections are on the rise, maybe the campaign wasn't totally bad-I mean they got a reaction.If Fear is a reaction from the possibility that someone can look great, be this hot sexy gay man, or he's a bf that discloses later and that he could be the one that infects you-yeah this is a reality different scenarios happen and there are people that do have sex and don't disclose. I hear conversations at the bar , online and in inner circles of acquaintances that this happens/denial happens-lets not pretend that it doesn't. It is both parties responsibility to talk about HIV/AIDS and or STDs.I don't believe fear in itself is a bad thing,if it's coupled with empowerment/education and what you can do to protect yourself.I'm not going to pretend that this virus is not capable of still taking lives-YES people are still dying FYI!!!!.I think a curriculum anywhere that you are teaching about HIV/AIDS needs at least 3 continuous sessions with breaks in between like a week apart-Factual, audio, visual,testimonials that target the particular audience to sink in.I'm tired of people who are educators not always teaching the HIV/AIDS message and give it the TIME it deserves. The he the one campaign wasn't put together well, it could of been done a little differently-I get it. But ya know we are in real complacent time of all this and this complacency has been going on for years now, we have grown numb, maybe people would motivate if they felt afraid.Please do not misinterpret me about fear, I would never go into a teaching with the intent to scare anyone. I go in with the realities of what this virus can do, what it continues to do...but there is something you can do about it to know your status, and treatments are available. I guess being infected since I was 19 at the brunt of the epidemic I've come from a different perspective at times. I will never forget the friends and mentors that are gone and what they taught me. Through my eyes I have lived the reality of living with AIDS and yes fearful moments when I thought I was gonna die, but I have also embraced the hope of maybe a cure in our lifetime, so I remain optimistic about the future.Again I get why people were so offended by this campaign. I wasn't offended though.There was a reaction that's for sure and that's not always a bad thing. It gets people talking and hopefully we can embrace the good , bad and indifferent opinion in the fight against HIV/AIDS and come up with more affective and progressive programs and services that can wake up peoples-motivation, passion and the connectedness to the epidemic that so very much needed . History must never be forgotten, we must examine where we are in affective messages in our present time, Where we were in history and learn from it, and where are we going with maybe some different ways of getting education across.Still theres a long way to go. In Peace , Greg Sanchez
Friday, March 5, 2010
How is Greg Sanchez III healthy?
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
How is Greg Sanchez III healthy?
Freeing my voice and speaking of my story my testimony and helping others did something to me...I believe it bought me purpose and something to look forward to.
How does a 44 yr old man manage ADHD and live with AIDS for 25yrs?
I strive to stay healthy and look great!
I have been procrastinating a bit when it comes to getting up the focus and sit still long enough to write what my experience has been.
I like to be in a space where I am clear and it is filled with optimism about the future, but still hold true of the ups and downs of managing HIV. For me and I am sure for many life throws you curve balls and before ya know it , your in a place you never thought you'd be. I remember at 19yrs old I was thinking I would be gone by now at 44,... fast forwarding in my mind years ago and low and behold I'm still kicking.
I currently take about 16 pills lower than the once 32 pills I had to take for different reasons not just because of having AIDS. I'm quite the pro at throwing down my pills without gagging. Along with the HIV medication I'm on Epivir and Isentress, I take ADHD medication, sleep medication, pain medication, medication for neurapathy,cholesterol, anxiety, depression,IV Immuno globulin, herbs and vitamins. But hey I'm told I look great even though sometimes I don't feel the best.
When I first found out I was positive I went into denial. In the 80's, I was living in Indiana and everybody was scared of what the big disease with the little name was and how it was spread. I went inward and did nothing about it for years.When I did finally deal with it my t-cells were 219 in the 90's. In 1993 was in the hospital with PCP, In 1997 I was diagnosed with AIDS since then my basline has never went beyond 550 t-cells but am undetectable.
Later in life in 1990 I was in an ex Gay ministry and was a fanatic about sticking to healing, herbs, lots of supplements and exercise. People would say I could be healed if I really believed. I was somewaht healthy but lost ALOT of weight, I looked unhealthy. This mentality lasted for so long then I began to ease up on my over obsession with doing everything in access to stay alive, I was scared though afterall I was so very young I had my whole life to live and this wasn't part of the plan, I didn't want to die in my early 20's.
Fast forward - I escaped the ex Gay ministry with a belief system that was not traditional but one in which I could embrace and I needed , thanks to a Pastor from Hospice that met with me religiously every 2 weeks.He believed there was purpouse for me, ...while I was so ready to denounce my hope and beleifs in GOD or something bigger than me.I had to make sense of my life. My beliefs were so important to have comfort, for survival and to believe maybe I'd be alive when a cure comes.
The biggest difference was that I could tell my attitude and personality changed for the better when I began to get involved with HIV/AIDS Education, Advocacy and Activism. Freeing my voice and speaking of my story my testimony and helping others did something to me...I believe it bought me purpose and something to look forward to.
I love helping people, seeing people grow, become active or enlightened about their purpose..in a sense passing the torch on for others to light the way and discovering their voice. I believe silence is not healthy and to keep in shame , regret, embarrassment or feeling bad about yourself isn't good. I know speaking out and being vocal isn't for everyone, but for me it was what made me soar. It wasn't about me focusing on me but on others and that took the constant worry of my own life.
One of the biggest obstacles in managing HIV/AIDS was managing the ADHD first so I could develop a way to take my meds right, catch myself in hyperactive mode and not bite more off than I could chew. I am one for doing several projects at once, but my brain is going so fast that my body has a hard time catching up with it. Because ADHD comes with it's unique individual to individual co-morbid symptoms that follow include depression ,anxiety and impulsiveness... my road has been a bit of a roller coaster at times.So for me alot of this balance came after managing ADHD.
Then there is SAD to deal with so it feels great spring is coming I need the sunlight. I am not immune to addictions and have had and can still have times when these weaknesses want to pull you back down. I believe that for me being happy is important, having purpose in life-the exchange of giving and receiving, listening and learning, being involved in life. I have a tendency to go inwards when something triggers the depression and it can become quite debilitating.
I have alot of health problems but I cope with it. I can go on and on about being in the hospital, procedures done on me, all my current health problems, but right now I am focusing on rising above some recent difficulties I've been having with my health.vI think having a lot of loving friends who care for me is key, I think helping others is key, exercise is key, lifting your voice is key, finding strength in people who believe in you and are positive for you but allow you the freedom to be down when you need to feel sadness..
I always say just don't stay there..let it be but then get up wipe yourself off and move on.I have the support of some of my family and seem to have more support from my surrogate family, my non biological family. I don't waste my time with people who don't see me and what I can contribute. I have learned to knock at the door and bring forth from my memory what I have learned from my former mentors that are no longer living but have passed on and are asleep now, some people don't open the door for more progressive ideas so I don't waste my time anymore, there are other avenues.
I have seen too much suffering, death, but I've also witnessed remarkable stories of survival. I think I need to be true to my own testimony never forgetting the message that we still have alot to do and evidently I still have lots to do.
I have fun , I joke, I'm a kid at heart, I say what I need to say , good ,bad or indifferent, there is something to be said for being authentic even if the next person does not agree. We all play a part, the mover , the shaker, the peacemaker.I can be too serious and intense I am well aware of this, none the less I still have a place in this world where this person is needed.I have the support and Love of my BF Billy and Tyson and miss Daisy my pets. I try to be balanced about my life/moderation and not so hard on myself anymore. History along with the present needs to be told.
I know I belong here on this planet right now and with a unison of others will be part of change somehow. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.
God at least I hope not.
-- Gregory Sanchez III
Chicago
How is Greg Sanchez III healthy?
Freeing my voice and speaking of my story my testimony and helping others did something to me...I believe it bought me purpose and something to look forward to.
How does a 44 yr old man manage ADHD and live with AIDS for 25yrs?
I strive to stay healthy and look great!
I have been procrastinating a bit when it comes to getting up the focus and sit still long enough to write what my experience has been.
I like to be in a space where I am clear and it is filled with optimism about the future, but still hold true of the ups and downs of managing HIV. For me and I am sure for many life throws you curve balls and before ya know it , your in a place you never thought you'd be. I remember at 19yrs old I was thinking I would be gone by now at 44,... fast forwarding in my mind years ago and low and behold I'm still kicking.
I currently take about 16 pills lower than the once 32 pills I had to take for different reasons not just because of having AIDS. I'm quite the pro at throwing down my pills without gagging. Along with the HIV medication I'm on Epivir and Isentress, I take ADHD medication, sleep medication, pain medication, medication for neurapathy,cholesterol, anxiety, depression,IV Immuno globulin, herbs and vitamins. But hey I'm told I look great even though sometimes I don't feel the best.
When I first found out I was positive I went into denial. In the 80's, I was living in Indiana and everybody was scared of what the big disease with the little name was and how it was spread. I went inward and did nothing about it for years.When I did finally deal with it my t-cells were 219 in the 90's. In 1993 was in the hospital with PCP, In 1997 I was diagnosed with AIDS since then my basline has never went beyond 550 t-cells but am undetectable.
Later in life in 1990 I was in an ex Gay ministry and was a fanatic about sticking to healing, herbs, lots of supplements and exercise. People would say I could be healed if I really believed. I was somewaht healthy but lost ALOT of weight, I looked unhealthy. This mentality lasted for so long then I began to ease up on my over obsession with doing everything in access to stay alive, I was scared though afterall I was so very young I had my whole life to live and this wasn't part of the plan, I didn't want to die in my early 20's.
Fast forward - I escaped the ex Gay ministry with a belief system that was not traditional but one in which I could embrace and I needed , thanks to a Pastor from Hospice that met with me religiously every 2 weeks.He believed there was purpouse for me, ...while I was so ready to denounce my hope and beleifs in GOD or something bigger than me.I had to make sense of my life. My beliefs were so important to have comfort, for survival and to believe maybe I'd be alive when a cure comes.
The biggest difference was that I could tell my attitude and personality changed for the better when I began to get involved with HIV/AIDS Education, Advocacy and Activism. Freeing my voice and speaking of my story my testimony and helping others did something to me...I believe it bought me purpose and something to look forward to.
I love helping people, seeing people grow, become active or enlightened about their purpose..in a sense passing the torch on for others to light the way and discovering their voice. I believe silence is not healthy and to keep in shame , regret, embarrassment or feeling bad about yourself isn't good. I know speaking out and being vocal isn't for everyone, but for me it was what made me soar. It wasn't about me focusing on me but on others and that took the constant worry of my own life.
One of the biggest obstacles in managing HIV/AIDS was managing the ADHD first so I could develop a way to take my meds right, catch myself in hyperactive mode and not bite more off than I could chew. I am one for doing several projects at once, but my brain is going so fast that my body has a hard time catching up with it. Because ADHD comes with it's unique individual to individual co-morbid symptoms that follow include depression ,anxiety and impulsiveness... my road has been a bit of a roller coaster at times.So for me alot of this balance came after managing ADHD.
Then there is SAD to deal with so it feels great spring is coming I need the sunlight. I am not immune to addictions and have had and can still have times when these weaknesses want to pull you back down. I believe that for me being happy is important, having purpose in life-the exchange of giving and receiving, listening and learning, being involved in life. I have a tendency to go inwards when something triggers the depression and it can become quite debilitating.
I have alot of health problems but I cope with it. I can go on and on about being in the hospital, procedures done on me, all my current health problems, but right now I am focusing on rising above some recent difficulties I've been having with my health.vI think having a lot of loving friends who care for me is key, I think helping others is key, exercise is key, lifting your voice is key, finding strength in people who believe in you and are positive for you but allow you the freedom to be down when you need to feel sadness..
I always say just don't stay there..let it be but then get up wipe yourself off and move on.I have the support of some of my family and seem to have more support from my surrogate family, my non biological family. I don't waste my time with people who don't see me and what I can contribute. I have learned to knock at the door and bring forth from my memory what I have learned from my former mentors that are no longer living but have passed on and are asleep now, some people don't open the door for more progressive ideas so I don't waste my time anymore, there are other avenues.
I have seen too much suffering, death, but I've also witnessed remarkable stories of survival. I think I need to be true to my own testimony never forgetting the message that we still have alot to do and evidently I still have lots to do.
I have fun , I joke, I'm a kid at heart, I say what I need to say , good ,bad or indifferent, there is something to be said for being authentic even if the next person does not agree. We all play a part, the mover , the shaker, the peacemaker.I can be too serious and intense I am well aware of this, none the less I still have a place in this world where this person is needed.I have the support and Love of my BF Billy and Tyson and miss Daisy my pets. I try to be balanced about my life/moderation and not so hard on myself anymore. History along with the present needs to be told.
I know I belong here on this planet right now and with a unison of others will be part of change somehow. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.
God at least I hope not.
-- Gregory Sanchez III
Chicago
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