To adopt or not to adopt

I was at a social gathering the other day when I met a woman who had one thing in common with me.

We were talking about our lives, our dreams and our worlds when I asked her if she’d ever like to bring in another child into this world. (She already is a mother of a fantastic 6 year old). Her answer, for someone who has lived in India her whole life was very impressive, according to me at least. She said she’d like to adopt another child and that she and her husband had already registered with an orphanage to initiate the process.

I have always wanted to adopt a child, ever since I can remember. The urge to adopt especially started getting stronger once I started working and earning my own living. I always felt that it made sense to work for the better of someone else, especially someone who is helpless and would benefit largely by my support. I mean, what good is what I do if I can’t make a significant difference at least to one person while I’m here?

However, in India…adopting children is not considered to be a socially acceptable norm in most places. If couples choose to adopt here, people socially believe it’s because the couple is having problems conceiving their own child. Although this is probably true in most cases, the point is that adoption shouldn’t be a last option for people who want kids.

It should be seen as a socially positive action wherein the little lives of young ones can be changed, for the better. In life, they say it pays to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. So, put yourself in the shoes of a child who has nothing literally. Isn’t it only fair that the lot of us who are better off contribute to them. And thus eventually to society as a whole in a way?

I personally believe that adopting a child is the greatest thing one can do. To offer your undying and unconditional love to someone who is not really yours and to take a pledge to look after them, their needs and wants throughout their life is a heroic act.

I’d love to eventually adopt at least one child. Just so I can change things for the better. For that one person. It would make me happy to make that child happy.

What I ask is the point of it all if you can’t change things for the better after all?