I had a meeting yesterday with a group of people re a, very exciting, new project, more about that to come. Anyhow, during the meeting my ‘personal story’ and background came up as it is a key driver for my involvement with the project.

We began to discuss the ’emotional weight’ that is carried when you have to repeat or inform someone of something deeply personal – such as your HIV status, the fact that you’re a widow or the million other uncomfortable facts you may need to share. Often simply because someone has ‘assumed’ something; and you have to and/or feel the need to correct them.

So these, as I call them, awkward conversations – how do you tackle them?