Why I’m seeing the light even though finding out I’m a NPE destroyed my identity

For context, one week ago today I received my 23andme results which confirmed something I’d long feared. My dad couldn’t be my biological father and my ethnicity is completely different to what I was always told it was. I’m still grieving and processing all of this. It’s really hard.

I regret living in an age where these sort of genetic tests are available because it destroyed my identity. But for some, it can bring amazing, beautiful revelations. I’ve heard some really heart-warming stories. I’ll give you examples:

- British man grows up as only child then realises at 56 he has at least 9 half-siblings.
- UK woman discovered in a shopping bag in a field finds she has a cousin.
- Woman whose sister was forced into adoption finds the children of her sister after being raised completely as an only child.

Without modern DNA testing, none of these discoveries would have been possible. I’m so sad about my own situation, but it’s really healing to hear about these other miracles. As a human race, it has to be a net positive.