Justin B. Terry-Smith has been involved in LGBTQ and HIV Activism since 1999. He is an Air Force 9/11 Disabled Vet. Raised in Silver Spring, MD, he now lives in Albuequerque, New Meixco with his husband Phil. He writes an HIV/STI Advice Column for A&U Magazine, is a Contributing writer for thebody.com, a Life Coach and an Adjunct Professor. He has earned his Doctorate in Public Health with a concentration in Infectious Disease and his Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Justin's HIV Journal: Justin Goes Skydiving
When someone is diagnosed with HIV, almost immediately a person's mindset changes; the mindset is most time turns into a negative way on thinking. I've learned that I cannot let HIV dictate how I live my life, as long as it turns into a healthier way of thinking. Sometimes I know that I fall short of this myself but the only thing I can do is try my best. I urge everyone to try their best in living their own lives. In my past I've always been on person that likes to travel in their own footsteps, and now through that mentality I have the change to live again. I've decided that I'm going to live, love and laugh freely. I'm trying to get the negativity out of my life trying to love myself and others more even if they speak or think negatively about me. I don't have time or energy to concentrate on that; all I can be is the best I can be.
Skydiving was an amazing experience and I recommend it to everyone. Honestly, I nearly crapped my pants, but I loved doing it. I was so nervous but the hardest part was honestly getting in the air in the passenger plane. The plane is noisy and small and the door was right next to where I was sitting. My head was where the pilot and instruments were. The instructor then straps himself to my back, next the door is opened and you can literally look down and see the ground and you can feel the wind everywhere. The instructor is strapped to my back and we are now half way out of the plane at this point and we lean and lean and jump.
When I was in free fall (falling without the parachute opened) I felt no control and I yelled. When the parachute opened I felt a sense of calm that came over me. I felt the sensation of serenity of giving control to someone without preservation. I gave up my will to another, and maybe I'm not necessarily talking about my instructor but to another. I realized that this life that I have I have to cherish more than I have, because ultimately it is only my own in a physical sense. I was the ultimate high to feeling that nobody (except my family) or nothing could replicate. All in all I felt free and this is truly the day I let go.
Next....hmmmmm....Bungee Jumping Anyone?.... WE WILL SEE!!!
