If you are at a good place in life, you might look back at your life and be grateful for each step along the way, knowing that you would eventually be where you are today. On the other hand, if you are unhappy with your life today, you might look back and regret many of your past decisions.

The third option is to be mostly content with your life, but, not be totally at peace with all the decisions you have made in life.
Like many birth moms, for me reunion was a time of self-discovery and a time to examine my life. As I pondered my life at reunion, the inevitable question was “How did I come to this place in my life?” Though I was mostly content and in a stable, good spot, reunion threw me into finally facing and dealing with the past.

I am aware that each and every decision that I or others around me made, have played a part in where I am today – not just physically, but spiritually, emotionally and in many respects. I know too that some of my decisions led me to where I am today, but, I know that higher powers – God - fate – destiny – luck - also have played a role in my current place in the world.

There is a theory of thought that goes like this, “Everything that happens is for a reason”. To a certain extent, I can buy that statement, and agree that it is a reasonable conclusion. However, we may not always know or understand the reasons.

Along the same lines, I also hear people say that everything is as it is “supposed” to be. I once saw a magazine cover of an adoptive parents’ magazine that asked, “Were you destined to be your child’s parent?” I hear adoptive parents express that sentiment and wince each and every time.

While I can buy the theory that everything happens for a reason, I cannot totally accept that everything is as it is “supposed” to be. At least in my mind, there is a distinction between the two.

To be continued..............................