Adopted children are self invented because we have to be…
““Adopted children are self invented because we have to be. There's an absence, a void, a question mark at the very beginning of our lives. A crucial part of our story is gone, and violently. Like a bomb in the womb, the baby explodes into an unknown world and it's only knowable through some kind of story. Of course, that is how we all live, it's the narrative of our lives, but adoption drops you into the story after its started. It's like reading a book with the first few pages missing. It's like arriving after a curtain up, the feeling that something is missing never, ever leaves you, and it can't, and it shouldn't, because something is missing. That isn't of its nature negative, the missing part, the missing past can be an opening, not a void. It can be an entry as well as an exit. It is the fossil record. The imprint of another life, and although you can never have that life your fingers trace the space where it might have been and your fingers learn a kind of braille. There are markings here, raised like welts.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Adopted individuals often feel an inherent emptiness from missing missing origins, yet this gap can become a source of creativity and identity formation.
In simple terms: Adoption leaves a missing past that can inspire growth.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the unknown as a creative space.
Themes
identity
origin
creativity
loss
storytelling
Mood
reflective
hopeful
introspective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- family counseling
- personal memoir writing
- support groups for adoptees
- art therapy
Key Concepts
psychology
narrative identity
attachment theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can one transform perceived emptiness into personal strength?
- What narratives help fill the missing origins?
A Different Perspective
The feeling of loss may hinder emotional stability for some.