From Orphaned to United: Embracing Adoption as a Gateway to the Extended Human Family

The journey from being orphaned through adoption is a profound one that encapsulates the human capacity for resilience and growth. While the initial sense of abandonment can be overwhelming, the experience of adoption serves as a bridge towards recognizing the extended family that is the human race. This article delves into the transformative power of adoption, highlighting how it leads individuals from a place of perceived isolation to a sense of belonging within a diverse and interconnected global community.

Orphaned: Navigating the Void of Abandonment

Being orphaned can evoke feelings of emptiness and disconnection. I only had six weeks of foster care by the state. The absence of biological family members may lead to a sense of not truly belonging, fostering questions about one's identity and place in the world. This initial experience of abandonment is a pivotal moment that can shape an individual's perspective, influencing how they approach relationships and their perception of self-worth.

For me personally, my adoptive parents informed me when my adopted sister arrived. I was four and a few months. Beyond the standard challenges mentioned above, I had a question. It was, “Do I have a father and mother in heaven and can I talk to them?” For one so young, such an innocent question turned into a life-long relationship that brought many a trial and tribulation as well as a sense of awe and fulfillment beyond your imagination.

Adoption: A Pathway to Healing and Connection

Adoption marks a pivotal turning point in the lives of those who experience it. It's an act of love and acceptance that bridges the gap left by the initial sense of abandonment. Adoptive families provide not only the practical necessities of life but also emotional support, demonstrating the power of human connection to heal wounds and foster growth.

The experience of being adopted offers a unique vantage point from which to appreciate the intricacies of the human condition. The journey of an adopted individual is often a narrative of resilience and transformation, symbolizing the innate human ability to find hope and build relationships even in the face of adversity.

My parents weren’t perfect, though I learned values that have served, and continue to serve, me well. Dad was a tool and die maker by trade, 32nd Degree Mason, a Knights Templar, by choice. He introduced me to DeMolay as a teenager. I found solace there, building upon the cardinal virtues throughout my life. Mom was a 8th grade English and Literature teacher who instilled the fascination with language and words.

From Isolation to Unity: Recognizing the Extended Human Family

The journey from orphan to adoptee serves as a microcosm of a broader shift in perspective—one that encapsulates the evolution from a limited sense of belonging to the recognition of a vast and interconnected human family. As adopted individuals grow, they often come to realize that the human experience is inherently shared, transcending geographical, cultural, and familial boundaries.

Sometimes the intensity of relationships with adoptees is just too much for those with unresolved trauma. The journey from trauma to triumph doesn't always happen, such as with my first marriage. Time away, in spite of the dedication to family and future, isn't always met with reciprocal behavior.

The realization that they belong to a global community, one bound by a shared humanity, can be a revelation of immense significance. Adoptees, having navigated the complex terrain of identity and belonging, emerge with a profound understanding of the importance of empathy, compassion, and solidarity in connecting with others.

Embracing Diversity and Unity

The gift of being orphaned and adopted serves as a testament to the diversity of the human experience and the unity that underpins it. Adopted individuals often develop a unique ability to appreciate and embrace different backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures. Their journey underscores the truth that despite our diverse origins, we are united by the common threads of joy, pain, love, and the human quest for meaning.

In the prime of my life now, I’ve found solace as a co-director for a global peace movement and foundation, a podcast host talking with people all over the world about their inner development and outer application in life, relationships and work. I’ve published 30 titles (according to Amazon), most of them bridging personal development, organizational development, spirituality and even a touch of Ufology. The latter is yet another layer of diversity and inclusion.

Conclusion

The journey from being orphaned to being adopted is a remarkable narrative of resilience, transformation, and growth. It encompasses the profound shift from a sense of abandonment to the recognition of a vast and interconnected extended human family. The experience of adoption teaches us that while our origins may differ, our shared humanity unites us in a profound and meaningful way.

Adopted individuals serve as living embodiments of the potential for healing, connection, and understanding that lies within all of us as members of the human race. I'll share more in the coming weeks and months about the growth and opportunity life offered; perhaps with some unprecedented news of transformation to come.

For me, being adopted gave me opportunities and wonderful gifts I would have never received without the curiosity of connection. Most recently, it lead to meeting a marrying the love of my life. She grew up in the USSR; her apternal grandfather was also adopted and is absent of family history. Perhaps it's given us both the radical curiosity of discovering Self and connection to All That Is.

Thanks for reading. I hope it had value.

Zen Benefiel is a visionary?author ?and?coach , adept in the realms of personal, professional, and organizational development. He is an ardent explorer of consciousness, delving into the depths of spirituality and metaphysics.