Rediscovering Identity: A Journey of Truth and Transformation

For over 40 years, my identity was defined by the unknown.

As an adopted individual who didn’t know my ethnicity or ancestral background, my search for answers became a significant part of who I was. My identity was wrapped up in the questions with no clear answers. When I finally uncovered those truths, I faced a new reality: I wasn’t sure who I was anymore.

My identity had been built around the unknown, and suddenly, that was gone.

After a DNA test, an extensive search, and a biological family reunion, I found myself unexpectedly entering a new phase of rediscovery. I had to confront two questions:

• Who am I now?
• What does life look like when the answers I sought are finally here?

Navigating life as a biracial person in a world where race and identity are often hotly debated has been both overwhelming and enlightening. This journey has been deeply personal, revealing new layers of self-awareness and understanding.

I am both excited—and a bit nervous—to relaunch The Adoptee Diaries podcast. This platform will continue to explore themes of identity, belonging, and the raw truths of the adoption experience from the mouths and minds of adoptees.

In a world that often seems to divide us, I see myself as a bridge—connecting races, religions, and the elements that unite us as human beings.

For those who don’t know my story, the brief version is this: I was born biracial (Black/white) to my Jewish biological mother, who relinquished her rights when I was about six weeks old, without my father’s permission. I was ultimately adopted after time in foster care and raised as a White Christian. Throughout my life, no one revealed the truth about my origins or ethnicity. It wasn’t until I took a DNA test in my forties that I uncovered the truth. Two years later, and just hours after my father—who raised me—passed away, I discovered that he—and likely my mother—had known my ethnicity all along. This revelation, coming amidst my grief, added layers of frustration to an already complex journey.

Over the past four years, as I’ve processed these revelations, I’ve made a conscious effort to celebrate our differences, embrace our truths, and seek transparency in all my safe and positive relationships. I believe in finding strength through community, in forgiveness, and in safeguarding our emotional well-being while resisting negativity from external sources.

Given the current state of the world, there’s no better time than now to focus on what unites us rather than what divides us.

You can find The Adoptee Diaries Episode 9: A Return to Connection on Spotify here or wherever you prefer to stream your favorite shows. I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences related to this episode. Feel free to share your insights or connect with me in the comments or via DM.

I encourage you to share this podcast with your adopted friends, biracial friends, and anyone who feels on the margins. No one has to navigate this journey alone, and the great news is that healing is possible.

Thank you for joining me on this journey of discovery. Let’s continue this important conversation together so that no one has to suffer their truth in silence.

About The Adoptee Diaries: This is a safe space for adoptees navigating the complex emotions of identity, trauma, healing, search and reunion. Join me as I share personal reflections, journal entries, and real-time learnings from our community, featuring insights from experts who help us understand what we're collectively experiencing. Whether you're an adoptee or someone seeking to raise us, teach us, love us or otherwise support us, this podcast is about finding strength, connection, and resilience in a world that can often feel overwhelming. Together, be inspired to move from your head into your heart as we are all just humans doing the best we can at the end of the day.

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