This is for anyone who don’t believe they can succeed in the face of adversity
13 years ago I adopted my beautiful, smart, funny and creative daughter from China when everyone gave me a litany of excuses as to why it was a bad idea.
At the time, I had a career as which had me traveling to China every 4 months for 2-3 weeks at a time. I got to know the Chinese culture, food and people well.
I also became faced with the realization of extreme poverty and the one child policy.
Baby girls were being abandoned in record numbers due to this policy.
One is truly removed from the inequities of life until you see it in front of your face.
Well also about this time I had just gotten divorced and was having a soul searching conversation with myself that went something like this “What would I truly regret I “didn’t” do when I am 80 years old looking back at my life”.
The answer surprised me! All the boxes had been checked except for one
- I Got married
- I Had a career
- I Owned my Home
- I had Retirement savings
- I did NOT Have a baby – this would be my biggest regret
I learned there were more than 1 million girls in the system…..And if I could help just one have an amazing chance at life and opportunity – it was a no brainer!
I started the adoption process….on my own, as a single mother! Family and friends tried to dissuade me or tell me I couldn’t raise a child on my own – but I was determined – I had a calling that was larger than life.
Through all the negativity and obstacles
- Being put on a waiting list as the Agency had filled their quota of single mothers
- Waiting 2 years for my referral letter
- Needing to update my dossier every 3 months during the waiting period
- Continuous scrutiny from family and friends if I knew what I was doing.
I did and on December 15, 2008 I became the mother of a beautiful baby girl and I never looked back.
My daughter and I are blessed to have each other.
I learned that what made this a reality was …..
- Determination
- Patience
- Commitment
- Faith
- Tenacity
- Wanting to better life for a child
- Fulfilling a natural instinct
- Belief in Myself
- Positive Mental Attitude (my mantra in everything I do)
- Attention to details
- Not letting other’s negativity or jealousy lead me
In the scope of my life, this experience was the most demanding, heroic, fulfilling and gratifying of my life!
It has taught me to tap into the same grit and determination in everything I do since then and that if I believe it then I CAN do it!
You can achieve great things when you believe in your gut instinct, your destiny, your calling, a passion to fulfill.
Xx Jeannine
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