The debate between working for bigger companies or smaller companies is a big topic for a lot of college graduates entering the workforce—I’d know, I was recently one of them. Everyone has their opinion of which way is best before they take the job, and those may or may not change after everyone has spent some time being employed.

You’ve heard of the Bermuda Triangle, right? It’s that mysterious region in North Atlantic Ocean where it’s said that more than 50 ships and 20 airplanes have disappeared without a trace. Fascinating and discomforting as that may be, the real trouble with the Triangle is that its boundaries are only loosely defined, which no doubt leads to uncertain pilots steering into a bad situation.

When you’re applying for a new job, you have your reasons—whether it’s to find a new challenge or to escape a toxic workplace, you want to trust that somewhere else will be better for you and your career. But when you’re sending off applications, it’s hard to know what you might be getting yourself into—most times, you won’t know until you’ve signed your new employment contract and are in (a new set) of weeds.

If you’ve ever tried to learn another language, you know that it’s incredibly difficult to just jump in—self-instruction can be difficult, disorganized, and overwhelming. It’s helpful, when setting off on this ambitious endeavor, to engage with a helpful tool that features a more structured approach with instruction on specific concepts. Let’s face it—if there’s something out there that can simplify complex ideas, it just makes sense to take advantage of it.

Ever moved somewhere new? It’s a big life change, and of course, it’s important you pack all your belongings and get them moved to your new spot. But it’s not just your stuff that you need to account for—you’ll also be looking for a new local doctor to trust with your medical history, a new mechanic to trust with your car, etc.

Ever watched a personal trainer conduct a workout on social media? Throwing up weights like they’re nothing or repping for what seems like hours before a water break—they make it look so easy. So much so that many people watching leap up to join them, only to realize that, no it’s not that easy, and these trainers operate at the level they do thanks to their dedication and massive, invested effort.

These days, everyone understands how important it is to have health insurance. Many may even think of it as a safety net that will prevent the worst—after all, that’s what insurance is for, right?

As you may or may not know, November is Adoption Awareness Month. Like parenthood in general, adoption is a journey, but in some ways, it’s still considered a unique way to go—after all, your starting point in adopting a child is completely different from the alternative ways of becoming a parent. But that’s what makes it so special, and it’s why I wanted to write this. To celebrate Adoption Awareness, I want to share my own experience with adoption.