Jump on board the Adoption Journey Train as this years National Adoption Week theme celebrates adoption journey’s. Life is really all about the journey. It is the adventures into a new places, the people we meet, the experiences good or bad that we have, our friends, unexpected stops and diversions. The train travels fast and slow along train tracks of challenge and excitement but how we see our travels can determine where we go and whom we choose to travel with.
As we share our life journey wisely it helps other connect, I was honoured and excited to this year speak to Premier Radio and Woman Alive Magazine. I spoke about how I am learning about the power of mediation to help deeper heal areas of my life that got lost or damaged along the adoption journey. There are many ways to heal from trauma as it becomes a blockage if you like on our train tracks. Music and sound and stillness help us connecting our mind and heal.
WOMAN ALIVE MAGAZINE
I hated being called Joy
Premier Radio, Faith Hope and Love
From Traumatic childhood to faith filled comedian
See Trauma as a pitstop into triumph
Trauma is a stop that is part of the adoption/fostering/care process as your body has packed away difficult complex images and sounds until we are in a safe space to deal with them. I see trauma now as a train stop not a final destination as time does heal when we are able to work through it. I recorded one of my favourite hymns ‘I vow to thee my country’ as it helps to remind myself to be kind to myself but during challenges to be strong like a soldier to fight the good fight of faith and to keep pursuing peace. Freedom from negative emotions takes effort and determination. So please do enjoy this 2 minute flute meditation and I would greatly encourage you if you don’t already to learn about mediation as weapon to wholeness. Learn about the use of breath work, using your imagination to ‘see love’ around you when there is none and the beauty of sitting in music to heal your soul. Enjoy.
Challenges Ahead
National Adoption Week 2024 sees adoption organisations and the UK government highlight the process and importance that family plays in a child’s life.
*There is 22% increase in the number of children with a plan for adoption waiting to be matched.
*There are now more children waiting to be placed in a family with children who are in family groups and of ethnic origin still waiting to be placed the longest.
*With fewer potential adopters coming forward, children of all ages are now facing delays of over 18 months.
*There is a drop in social workers and those going into the care system.
*The constant changes in the UK Government with new MP’s and roles means new connections and friendships have to be forged.
*There has never been a time in history when there has been so much constant, deep and continual change and increase in technology and change in society.
That is why we all have role to play in helping others our voices are powerful. So the question is 'What is in my hear to to do?', is it 'now' or 'later'? A little make a huge difference when we work together.
So what does that mean for adopted people as a whole?
Well I have been an adoption advocate since 2006 and seen many powerful conversations about ‘adoption’ and ‘fostering’ happen as we as a society wake up to the fact that we all play a role to help children, young adults and adults meet their full potential in life.
Changes I would like to see
Those with lived experience continue to share experiences and unite to create, design and enable change.
As adopted and care experienced children grow up and enter the work force their life their experience can play a vital role in shaping the future. I would like to see better integration with charities, organisations and government to help to shape the future for adopted, fostered and care experienced people. A good example of this is when I met a team of lawyers who are all care experienced helping the next generation of young care experienced people enter law and then if they choose go and work in the justice system. This is the ultimate ‘giving back’ to society, as our personal life experience is golden to helping others overcome.
Social Media
Good or bad there are more voices, blogs, podcasts, groups and fun events going on than ever before to help keep the adoption voice and discussion in lives and in the media. This is important as the sound of everyone sharing their ‘drop of water’ of knowledge creates a sea of change, resonance and power to not only recreate the mistakes of the past but to develop and imagine better outcomes.
Creative arts
It was Albert Einstein who said ‘Creativity is intelligence having fun!’ and this is so true. The more ‘fun’ we have with our life story we create creativity and imaginations to help others engage with our story, heal, and find their own authentic voice and identity. The adoption system needs love, creativity and hope. I truly believe that the artistic and creative voice is the one that will shape the future in any system and the adoption field needs creativity in buckets.
Creativity gives us permission to rethink, reimagine, recharge and realign our thinking in our own specific areas of expertise.
The future of National Adoption Week requires all of us to create, work together and continue to see and believe for the better, better and best.
Thank you for reading and please do let me know your thoughts,
Blessings,
Joy
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