Great Read

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/sex-and-relationships/dating-with-herpes

My friends sent that to me last night; just thought I would share. Just goes to show, with time, it WILL get easier.

I LOVE THIS!!!

MY FAVORITE DISCLOSURE happened when a guy made a herpes joke while chatting me up at a party. He offered me the rest of his expensive beer and said with a wink, “Don’t worry, I don’t have herpes or anything.” I had a choice to make. I could laugh his comment off and pretend it didn’t hurt, but that would mean laughing at myself. Or I could steer into the skid and stop being so afraid of what people thought.

“That’s funny,” I said, with as warm a smile as I could manage. “Yeah, that’s really funny. Because I have genital herpes.” His face crumbled. Not because I grossed him out—I could practically see the wheels turning in his brain as he realized he’d made an ignorant joke at someone else’s expense. The guy started apologizing profusely.

Yes! Ella isn't just brave, but such a sweetheart, too. She came up after this panel discussion and talked about wanting to do this. Proud of her for coming through. :)

I really loved this article - and it gave me a lot of ideas about how to be open about my status. I don't really buy into the idea that it needs to be some big, bad secret. And have been thinking about how to be more open. This was super helpful! Thanks :)

No, it doesn't have to be a big bad secret. I'm 100% out and my experience is very like Ella's ... the bottom line is you just plain can't take any kind of negative response (whether perceived, like you *believe* they gave you a disgusted look, or real, as in a nasty remark) personally .. because none of that is about YOU... it's just showing you that person's ignorance and small-mindedness. When you get that, being "out" is actually really easy :)

(((HUGS)))

I just looked through the latest print version and it isn't there. Is it only only? That's such a shame if so.

Actually, now that I think about it more, they may publish it in the next issue.

Not sure - a lot of the mags are doing more online ... let me know if they do a printed version though ... I'll try to get a copy for the OBGYN office in the building I work out of :)