Medals for Our Misery

I read in the paper the other day that the Girl Scouts of America is changing its ways of saluting merit.

Today's Girl Scouts not only strive to earn badges in citizenship and traditional skills like cooking, Girl Scouts with sharp stress management skills can be rewarded with a "Stress Less" badge, a fancy little number that is embroidered with a hammock. And other badges introduced by these Scouts reward achievement in other contemporary skills.

You know, gang, I think these chicks are on to something!

Why don't we in the AIDS world follow the Scouts' lead? Let's establish a badge culture of our own to reward ourselves for all of the skills we're all forced to develop while living with this crummy virus.

I just might have a better attitude about having to put up with this disease for the rest of my life if I knew that in the end I might have cool badges and medals to show for all of the suffering.

So, c'mon, AIDS Scouts! Grab your scissors and start giving yourselves some credit!

Paul Serchia is the editor of Positive Living. He can be reached by calling (213) 201-1362 or by e-mail at pserchia@apla.org.