"Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace."
- Amelia Earhart

Searching takes courage, but, the rewards can be great. Many of the details uncovered during a search might seem minor to most people, however, seemingly small details can cause great excitement during the search process. I have often heard searchers becoming highly excited upon finding out the smallest bit of information. One discovery that is particularly rewarding is a name.

An adoptee friend of mine who is currently searching for birth family recently was able to confirm his birth mom's first name. “It is another piece of the puzzle”, he said. My friend also said that his jaws were sore from smiling after he found her name.

Finding a name is significant for several reasons. It makes the person seem more "real" to be able to attach a name to the birth family member. When I first had my son's name, I remember walking around smiling too. I also recall repeating his name over and over in my head. Another reason why it is so exciting to have a name is that it makes a searcher feel another step closer to finding that birth family member.

The recent VH1 adoption documentary that featured legendary rapper Darryl McDaniels, aka DMC, showed his reaction to finding his birth name. He found his birth name while looking through birth records at the Hall of Records in the state where he was born. Shortly after he confirmed the identity of his name, he was shown strolling through the building with a happy broad smile on his beaming face. He was chanting his birth name repeatedly. It was as if he was “trying on” his birth name. He even began composing a rap song weaving his newly discovered name into the lyrics!

Names are highly significant when it comes to discoveries in a search. It almost takes another triad member though to understand the thrill of a name. A name for your son or mother is something that most people take for granted, as they probably have always had it. For those searching for birth family though, discovering a name of a birth family is a significant and exciting event!