Healing Through Storytelling: My Adoption Journey on a Podcast

-


I recently had the pleasure of sharing my story with Trishna on her podcast, "The Chai with T," and it was an incredible experience. The conversation flowed effortlessly, and I appreciated how Trishna truly listened and offered insightful follow-up comments and questions.


Over the past few years, I've shared my journey in various spaces and platforms, often as a panellist on adoptee panels. However, this was my first time doing a podcast. I've been meaning to do a podcast but felt like I needed to wait for the right moment and the right platform. 

I am now finally at a point where I can share my story comfortably. I'm able to speak about my experiences with full acceptance of the things I've lived through, without reliving the trauma. It was especially meaningful to do this on a podcast hosted by another South Asian adoptee.


The experience was different from writing about my journey. When I write, I have the time to reflect, edit, and ensure everything is just right. But on a podcast, the conversation is both organic and raw. Listening back to my episode with Trishna, I noticed that I might have missed a few details. Still, it was a genuine reflection of where I am today.


Right now, I’m filled with gratitude for my wife and children, who have been my anchors through all the craziness. They’ve given me better memories to cherish. I’m also deeply thankful for my in-laws—of all the families to marry into, I’m glad it was theirs. I’m grateful for my siblings; despite everything we’ve been through, I’m glad it was with them. And to every adoptee I’ve met and spoken with since discovering my own adoption, thank you for being part of this journey.


If you're interested in hearing my story, definitely check out my episode on "The Chai with T."  I'm incredibly grateful to Trishna for creating such a safe and welcoming space. It was truly inspiring, and she’s a wonderful host!

Popular posts from this blog

Discovery

-
I am a Late Discovery Adoptee. This is a term I only discovered fairly recently in August of 2019. I was browsing the web, looking for any sort of answer to understand this crazy new discovery about myself. But, yeah, turns out I'm adopted. And I found this out at 34. Some of you reading this already know me. Some longer than others. For those that either didn't grow up with me and know how I was brought up, or just don't know me at all, let me start at the beginning for you. I was born to a Cuban mother and an Indian father in February of 1985. It was 10:55 pm, in a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Well, this is what I was told by my parents. I had an older sister at the time, and we were a family of 4. Growing up, I never questioned our parents who I was. They, and by they I mostly mean our mother, shared stories about the day I was born. There was never any question about it. My older sister and I were and obviously still are brown. My older sister however, has a l...
Read more

The Letter

-
On January 17th of 2020, I sent my a-parents a letter. I wrote down my thoughts and feelings that I've been having up until that point. Today is May 14th, 2020. As far as I know, neither of them has read it yet. When I first sent it, my a-mother shared a lot of her thoughts. Much of which were hurtful. But, she didn't read the letter. It would have brought to light a lot of what I was going through. Maybe she would have replied differently. But then again, in her words, "Whatever you feel or think I validate even without reading anything." A month later in February, I sent them a message in the group chat asking whether or not either of them read my letter. I got zero responses. Not even an acknowledgement of my question. Then again in March, I sent them another email letting them know I still wasn't sure if any of them read it. And so, I will post that letter here. If it helps someone else, great. But at least it will be read by somebody. It’s been a ...
Read more

I am Adopted

-
Recently two Adoptees that I follow on Instagram shared posts on what it means to not be adopted. It inspired to me write a new blog post. Wendy ( @wendyfabulous on Instagram) posted an image  with the following words: "Please describe to me what it feels like to be first choice." In her description, she mentions that it's mainly directed towards non adopted individuals. But I still felt it. I grew up believing that I was a "first choice". That I was "kept". It's a very strange place to be when I think of being a late discovery Adoptee. I feel stuck in the middle. And even though I am adopted, I am an Adoptee, because a majority of my life I thought I wasn't, sometimes I feel like I don't belong in that conversation space. And yet, I do belong. I think back to a thought I once had - As a late discovery Adoptee, I feel like I can relate and can't relate to Adoptees all at once. From my upbringing, I can certainly tell you what it’s like...
Read more