WATCH: Accepting Your HIV-Positive Status

A Facebook friend reached out to get advice on dealing with his recent HIV diagnosis: Waldemar “Waldie” Murray responded with this heartfelt video (watch below). Murray is the YouTube star behind The Soul Wake Up videos (and one of our Most Amazing HIV-Positive People of 2016).  He came out about being poz 48 hours after his own HIV diagnosis in 2014, telling viewers, "I'm going to own this shit. I am owning this shit. I'm going to rock this shit."

Murray recently heard from the friend, who is still struggling to deal with the diagnosis a year later. In response, Murray quotes the great African-American poet, Maya Angelou, saying, "if you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." 

For further advice on dealing with the difficult emotions faced in the first year of being HIV-positive, check out this piece by therapist Gary McClain.