National Adoption Day

There are many people in my circle of acquaintances who have experience with adoption. I know dozens of adoptive parents, a couple of birth mothers, and many adoptees. Social media is a great way to stay connected, but it is also a difficult way to get hit with post after post of all the things I dislike so much about the adoption community. I think people on all sides of the adoption spectrum have good intentions. Love is love, but marketing and monetary schemes are what drive our world and we must not be blind to why November is celebrated by so many in this particular industry.

These days

The question I often ask myself is, “Are you paying attention, Em?” I do that because it is easy to take things and people for granted. I still have the scars from the deep losses I’ve felt, so I try extremely hard to listen when others open up about their own difficult histories. As humans we make life so messy sometimes, but when we find people who know the true meaning of struggle and defeat–it is really beautiful to see the reward of a life they have clearly fought hard for. I guess I have a special place in my heart for the stories of resilience and rebuilding.

Dare to dream

Mondays are my longest day of the week. I get up, put in a full day at work, drive to night class, spend approximately four hours working on my master’s, get home, eat a super late dinner, squeeze in a run, shower, and then hop into bed. It’s almost midnight, but the energy from my work out is keeping me awake right now. I am physically exhausted, but my mind is running.