Alina your life story is so common in your home country and it’s so sad. My wife is from Ukraine and had same situation in her life. She had baby girl and her ex husband walked out when she was 2. My wife had very tough life raising her daughter on her own with little or no help. I met her when her daughter was 8 and we married and I took her daughter as my own. She doesn’t know her real father and doesn’t care because I’m Dad to her. You have a real man that loves you as his own daughter so you are blessed!

Thumbs up for Gordon, he’s done a good job with you, bless him 👍🏻

Most men can be a Father - but not every father can be a Dad. In my humble opinion, It takes a VERY SPECIAL Man, or Women, to love, care and raise someone else's child. YOUR ADMIRATION, RESPECT AND GRATITUDE IS SHOWN IN YOUR TEARS, AND CLEARLY TOUCHES YOUR HEART. Before telling us, I assume you expressed your feelings to your Dad - but if not, NOW is a good time.

I think this is one of the most profound videos of selfless sharing to help others I have ever seen. Alina, you are an incredible lady.........

Thank you for sharing your heart ❤️ 💜 💙 You are so beautiful both inside and out. - Bern

You are a young lady, wise beyond your years. You have realised things that take others decades to assimilate, most times never. You articulate your emotions so well. You are an incredibly strong, beautiful woman inside and out. Thank you for sharing something that was very personal for you. Hopefully someone else can use your wisdom and insight to repair their own heart and find direction. 💖

Alina, I have appreciated this intimate sharing of your life experience. You have shown immense growth and compassion, understanding and forgiveness from the pain of parents splitting up and one leaving completely. I am from Kinistino and met your father-Gordon a number of years ago. He and your mother have been loving cornerstones in your life! Thank you. Dennis Nowoselsky

Gordon wins big time ! , for getting to know you as his daughter . I hope to see more episodes with you and your dad . I met my dad when i was 17, and got to know my mother in my 20's , somewhat . I had a good childhood without them , and it was just " my normal ", and I didn't feel like i was missing anything .

Made me tear up hearing your story. So glad you have such a wonderful dad, Gordon, who cherished you and brought u up to be the beautiful person you are. I love the attitudes and outlook you have on life.

My husband left the family when our son was 5. Alina, believe it or not it is actually better for you that you do not remember your biological dad because it is quite painful for a child to go from one home to another even on the weekends. Divorce traumatizes children, they suffer the most especially if they have connection with both parents and love them both. I am glad you understand how lucky you are that you were raised by a wonderful, caring step-dad just like my son has been by his step-dad since age 6. At that age you don't even remember clearly how this new parent came into your life, you just love him unconditionally and know that this person will never betray you, will always be there for you. This is all that matters really.

You just shared my story concerning my father coming from Ukraine in 1952 through Ellis Island, USA In 1952. Your share was so powerful and I feel so proud of you. I traveled the world for decades but age has caught up with me. But, with you , I can still travel through your videos.

Very emotional yet intriguing story. Your positive perspective on life and your humble attitude is impressive. ... keep it up.

Alina, it’s amazing you can express your feelings so clearly. There’s lots in what you’ve said that will help me and others come to terms with issues in our lives.

Thank you for sharing your story - (almost) tears and all. I hear similar stories of kids who lost out on reconnecting with a biological parent and the upset and resentment that causes. You sharing your story and how you got over the upset and resentment will, indeed, help others in such situations, too.

Your experiences in life have taught you priceless lessons and views making you an awesome young lady, your videos can educate others.

I found you by looking around YT for small town Canada. The first vid I watched was you and your dad visiting where you grew up. This is the second, and I subscribed. Alina, your gratitude and down to earth attitude is so appealing and needed in today's world. Your children will be so fortunate to be raised by you. But please...not in the big city...please. Maybe when you are ready you'll realize putting down roots in a smaller community will raise children the way you were raised. Heh...thank you so much for being you :)

This is a great story. Thank you for telling us about your life.

wow what a beautifully heartfelt video! your mom and dad should be proud!

My brother and myself grew up in a Christian orphanage, my mom and her family always made sure to portray my dad and his family are bad guys, he died when I was in 12 th grade, I didn't cry at his funeral, I felt so indifference towards my father. Now I'm a 30 year old man, recently came to Ontario as a new immigrant, I miss my dad and began to understand my dad was not someone my mother's family made me to believe. I completely understand you. Stay blessed Alina.

Неделю назад случайно наткнулся на этот канал и... оторватся не могу. Слов нет. Вы лучшая!!!! Спасибо.

This story was very sincere and told very Russian. Alina, don't cry - we love you!

Your soul is so beautiful for sharing this. I never had these problems you went through, but I can tell the impact this video will have on those who did. I wish the world had more of your thoughtfulness and consideration. What a happier place it would be...

This video touched Me deeply. I've sent to a friend whose story has many similarities to your own. Thanks for sharing this, and thanks especially for your strength, your maturity, and for the work of God in helping you.

This touched me. Another prospective. I am an alienated single Dad. I have struggled extensively to see and have a relationship with my son. Hugs. Mike.

Watching this almost leaves me lost for words. It must have taken a long time to be able to do this. Your strength is amazing and one thing I can say is something I heard a few years ago and have never forgotten: Don't look back unless you're going there! Keep being your OWN kind of beautiful Alina!

I have no competent words to describe you Alina. Your positivity and your elegance is captivating me! Thanks for your videos. I became your fan.

Don’t be sad! You’re so loved by your family and people around you and I love you too as a new subscriber! Stay safe!👍🙏🇵🇭🇨🇦😘

I'm sure your video will help many others who are going through the same thing. It 's so nice to see that you really understand how to be. You understand that each of us is responsible for our own actions/feelings and being a victim is a not a way to live. In another video of yours, you talked about being balanced. If we let go of all negativity and live as balanced a life as possible, we can't be anything but happy. But you already know that :)

Once again Alina, it's amazing how much of your life you share with us. God Bless

You have a heart of gold Alina. It's always good to open up and talk about it. Thanks for sharing your stories. Personally, I love your videos and traveling experiences

You are an Angel. And seeing your pain literally squeezed my heart and made it ache. However, seeing your resilience made that same heart fill with joy at the strength you possess. You are and will be fine. In fact, better than ‘fine’. If you can blossom into the wonderful, kind person that you seem to be through that trauma and sadness, then you are only going to get better, kinder, stronger and wiser from here. And for the record, I had a father that was home, but not present. There is a difference. And your father, like mine, missed out on a relationship with a seemingly incredible human being.

Alina, stories like yours need to be told. Thanks for having the courage to tell it. It's an inspiration to all of us to not just hear the tragedy, but what you've made of yourself, survived, and hopefully thrived. I have my own survival story of domestic abuse but thankfully left and did the best to heal myself and my children

Thank you for sharing this with us. You gave us really good insight and advice. Thank you for your honesty... Your work is appreciated.

this vid you made is youtube at its best. also, super generous of you to share your story this way. i’m grateful)))

Thank you for sharing your emotional story,

I really admire your work and the fact that you visit Colombia a lot. I was born in the States and my parents, which are colombian, brought me here since i was eight. I lived almost the same experiences you had in Canada. We have a lot in common and i am glad to make contact with you. God bless you, Alina, and take care❤

Excellent conversation.. My dad's favorite expression was "happiness is a choice"--confronted with painful or pleasant experiences, regardless, you choose how you respond to it. I only feel sad because i see and sense your sadness, the absence of your biological father. has left a hole in your life. I wonder if meeting him someday will help you move on from that loneliness.I don't know, one way or the other. On behalf of men, I apologize for your loss. Either say, i am very grateful for your honesty, genuine heartfelt, testimonial. Thank you so very much.

That was pretty powerful... wise and true. Thank you for being open enough to share that, it helps and resonates with people.

Thanks for being so open and vulnerable. You are awesome and have such an awesome family.

I cried when you cried. You were able to articulate your feelings that I felt like I was going through it myself. You are tremendously blessed even though of you were disappointed by your biological father. Gordon more than compensated what your biological father did not give you. Your mom and your family in Ukraine did their best to make up in your childhood what you needed from your biological father. You have a lot of love to pass on when you start your own family.

Thank you for sharing- totally different childhood issues, but lovely words of wisdom that helped me. Much light and love to you 🙏

Peace, Health, Healing, and Love to all. Great videos and information. Thank You for sharing, sure it helped and encouraged others. Life is Worth Living.

i just want to give you a hug. Thank you for sharing this story - I know it is hard. You are beautiful kind person and I am happy you have gone on to live your best life. Looking forward to getting to know you through your great travel blogs! Be well, beautiful girl!

True talk, Alina. Thank you for sharing. Very positive way to be.

Love your videos and your stories. In the evening when I don't want to spoil my day watching horrible News Media, I like listening and watching your trips. It always uplifts me. Like seeing you with your Dad. Also your Mom is great too! :)

You are such a brave, wise, interesting and inspirational woman keep living your dreams and keep living the people in your life that really matter x

Amazing and touching story. Overall - Alina, you are blessed... surrounded by people who love you.

Alina, thank you for sharing your story. You’re a strong woman who can overcome any adversity, something which I have massive respect and admiration for. You’re truly blessed to have a father like Gordon, who accepted you into his life, raised you and inspired you to become the person you are today. Sending positive vibes ⭐️💛

Your emotional story really made me cry more than you did, and I hope your father is still alive and you will meet him as soon as possible! And I would like to advise you to relax and try to get rid of recalling the past painful memories which do nothing but to increase your heart wound pain! I wish you happy life my dear sister!

Very touched by your true emotion. That is fine to share, as we are just human.

I don't think that you could explain situations like these more correctly, I am proud of you girl, you are a fine person!

Alina you’re such a sweetheart of a girl and extremely pretty. Such a pity for your biological father to not know what a beautiful wonderful daughter he has. Reminds me a bit of the situation of my stepdaughter and her dad not having anything to do with her and how she looked up to me to fill those father shoes. Good health and God bless your sweet soul

You’re amazing and I hope you continue to share your perspective this way because it truly teaches other people. x

Don't cry Alina, you and your dad both are awesome.

Alina, I understand you very well. We have similar stories about our childhood. You're breaking my heart seeing you crying. 😥

Thank you for sharing your life story! I can relate to this as my story when my parents divorced when I was five years old! My Dad in the late 60`s then PTSD out of four tours of the Vietnam War! Physically fit mentally issues as can`t imagine all he went through for the US Army! Never knew my Dad either then he passed away suddenly when I was 18 starting my adult life! Pains there for the rest of my life! Thanks for sharing everything good therapy as reflection is a good thing as maturity marches on in life! Take care, Jonathan

We all love you, Alina. Enjoying your travel videos

Thank you for sharing this, Alina. My father left our family of 5 forever when I was 8, and as the oldest, I certainly suffered my share of trauma. I learned too that my father was a covert narcissist and thought that it was best for the family that he remain absent and non-communicative. My mom raised us on her own and never remarried, so we felt the burden of caring for HER at times (another type of trauma). Trauma leaves lifelong pain that can only be managed with good therapy, self care, and by finding comfort within a healed self. I too traveled the world for decades in search of learning more about others and myself, and it indeed helped me. And once I found my life's work as a teacher, I felt at home. Currently for support, in addition to daily meditation and prayer, I watch and learn from the "Crappy Childhood Fairy" channel with Anna on yt. She offers a fuller understanding of the decisions made and will make in our past, present and near future among those who have suffered trauma. All the best on your journey. You have been blessed with a loving step father and courageous mother. Congratulations! Love and light.

Thank you for sharing your story. 🌹

Dear Alina, there are millions like you and me all over the world but life always offers so many fabulous and positive experiences to carry on to left suffering behind. I send you greetings from Mexico City.

You are a strong and resilient woman. Keep it up. You take us on great tours of countries. I wish you good luck in your tours.

My situation was very different....but I learnt how to contain my anger, resentment, lonliness, pain and all those nasty emotions....thanks to this video....this video of yours is so comforting to the soul...!!! Thank you so much, Alina..! More power to you...

Hi Alina, I just watched this video, Feb 2021 and was touched by your openness. Everything you said is very true. I am 69 years on this planet and have experienced grief as well. The older I get, the easier it is to forgive myself. Life lessons never stop and congratulations on the growth you have achieved! Best wishes always, Norma

Wow what an emotionally heart-wrenching story that brought me to tears. As a divorced father of three I can’t imagine my kids not knowing who I am. I travel a lot too and am away from them much of the time yet we are in constant contact with each other. 24/7/365. I can’t imagine any other way. It’s good to see you tell your story and live the life you’re doing. If I can say this, Remember the most important thing your father did was give you life and by God it’s good to see you living it by traveling and meeting so many wonderful people and experiencing so many things this world has to offer. Be blessed. Btw I’m planning a scuba trip to the Keys with my kids I can’t wait. Just to be with them is awesome!

Alina you have a maturity beyond your years... God bless you!..🙏♥️

Thank you for sharing your story Alina.

Thank you, you are an old soul from the past! I can hear it in your voice. You are so grounded from your upbringing...Great parents and family around you.

Alina, i’m so sorry! Thanks for sharing, I cannot imagine how hard that must have been to hear. I think its amazing tho how your step dad has done such a great job raising you! You are soo right!! Its not worth carrying around pain and resentment, I really sympathise with your way of thinking, thanks again for sharing 😊

Thank you for sharing your story. Yes, it was relevant to me, and it was helpful and healing. While my situation is different, your perspective on how we all can lighten our personal burdens by seeing our part in creating some part of that burden (and/or carrying it on endlessly) has really opened my eyes. While it’s hard to forgive, or to look upon others with greater sympathy and understanding, I think you’re right - quite right, in fact - to say that unless we are more understanding and forgiving toward others and especially ourselves, we may not find the peace that would help us to have happier and more fulfilling lives. So thank you, Alina, for sharing so much with us. I, for one, was really helped by it. )))

Thank you for sharing your heart. It was very emotional story. You are very understanding and really beautiful inside and out. Stay strong and blessed ❤

It is incredibly brave of you to share it and it's quite tough but you've grown up to be a very smart,beautiful and matured woman...

Thank you for sharing this information. There are many of us in a similar situation, including myself. I sense that you were compelled to make this video due to unresolved emotions. Take heart and acknowledge that you are a remarkable young lady, that has accomplished much at a young age. Count on yourself and those around you in your life that love you, realizing that these folks love and support you. Stay strong as I know you are, and good luck with your future endeavors.

Alina Thankyou for this video, so personal, conveying a message of forgiveness and maturity. You have everything to be succesful and you have been already. I have seen many videos of your traveles made a couple of years later than this one and I find all of them very interesting. I like your style. Your carisma is incredible.

I stumbled on to your travel videos a few days ago and then for some reason liked your style of presentation. More videos and I was hearing a beautiful young lady talk like a super well adjusted personality. Now, I have seen maybe 15-20 of your videos on various places in the world. I really like your style of doing the videos. This video on your childhood made me think of my own similar experience and how it did not have a bad affect upon me. I did meet my father after I was 25 years old. My brother said he was dying and wanted to see some of us (8 children in our family and I am youngest). I met him. It had no real emotional effect, he was just another person since he was never really in my life. I think you provide a good role model for young people who want to enjoy their life by doing what they are passionate about. Not letting bad baggage hold you back. I am now 76 and enjoyed my work for all those years. What a blessing to have a job/career that is a part of your life that you love. What greater joy? Keep on making similar videos and hope they allow you to prosper on the financial side of life.

Thanks alina, no matter what happen in our life, we must love ourself

Just found this channel and watched this video. I'm not crying, someone's just cutting onions somewhere

wow this would be a very difficult video to make. love how you and Gordon you travel the world together thats super nice. your birth dad situation you really didn't have any control over at all . everyone has problems in life that we will never really know about . how we choose to handle them is really up to the individual . and sometimes we have no control over how other people think. sometimes you just have to let the stress go and get on with life otherwise it will just burn you out completely

Alina, I am binge watching your channel and the deeper I go, the more I realize that your personal story is very similar to so many Russian kids who grew up without a father. Now in Canada, my heart is longing to be in Russia because that's where my roots and my ancestors spirit is still alive. Saint-Petersburg, Russia has captivated my heart so deeply, I felt like I have reconnected with my ancestors on some invisible level. Your roots are definitely in Ukraine and possibly in Russia. I hope your journey will fulfill your heart just like it did mine almost a decade ago. Thank you for sharing the truth and we're all watching and wishing you the best in life!

Life goes on. Be strong!

WOW! I have great respect for you and what you are today. I am adapted myself, and for the longest time when I was a young child, until I turned 8 yrs. old, I did not know I was a chosen one. I found out by doing something I was not supposed to be doing, snooping around my parents closet and I found the papers of my adaption. I resented my parents for a couple years until one day, my best friend said something to me that I will remember for life. That is: "You are lucky to have your parents that love you, just think - They chose you and it fits the same situation you had...You were blessed beyond measure by having a step father that also was your DAD....remember that and you are right, live your life with the love you have in your heart, and spread it to everyone you ever meet in life, that's where you will find your happiness....never forget that and be the same special person you are to all of us that follow your channel. I have many still to see of your video's, and I will cherish your sharing forever.....Much love and prayers for you and who you really are...

I can see how you try to explain to yourself what happend and fueling yourself with these sad emotions. The only person who can give you answers to your questions is your father and no one else. Maybe something happend, maybe he is ashamed, maybe he can't reach you. Many options, but like I said, only he can answer them. And I think you have to see that separately of the love for Gordon and your mom. It's a difficult situation and I wish you all the strength to cope with it. 🌹🌹🌹

Thank you so so much Alina, for your very wise and kind words, they are helping me more than you can imagine. You have given me so much food for thought and I hope, thanks to you making me think, I can move forward. Without seeing this video, I would still be struggling. I do have moments when the pain is very bad, but they pass, and very luckily life moves forwards. All the very best to you for all you do in life and for all your travels and adventures.

😔 For what is worth because you moved me..Thank you for being so strong to share...Alina i wish you love and closure to fill the voids in your beautiful heart and mind. Sincerely if i can carry any of your burden for you if only for a little while or forever i would. Your inner light is undeniable. Love and respect from a stranger across the world. Take care

God Bless You Alina, you the most Original KZfaqr i have ever come accros...keep up the great work you do baby girl 😙

So well said from the heart! Wise before your years! Wonderful woman that you have become thankyou to the support system in your life! You go girl!

What a fantastic person you are with a good head on you shoulders. I have a son that refuses to have contact with me. All because he can't move past things he carries around in his head. Because of that I have no access to my two beautiful granddaughters. Haven't seen them in 5 years. It hurts a father's heart.

Alina, thank you for sharing your story. You're still a beautiful woman at the end of the day ❤

Thank you Alina for making this video and sharing your private life. I travel to Ukraine a lot and meet people with similar stories. I've also been in Gordon's shoes on more than one occasion and understand how the bond of being a stepfather can be as strong as a biological one. My mother also had a similar story to yourself - she lost touch with her own father when she was just 8 year old. He went to fight on the beeches in WW2 (D-Day) and met someone whilst away. My mother lost touch with him and it wasn't until she was 28 did she ever see him again. It took her a few years to forgive him, but when she finally did reconnect with him, he stayed in her life until he died at 80 years of age - some 30+ years - when I was eventually born - I got to have a grandfather at least which may have never happened if she hadn't managed to adopt the power of forgiveness. She also learned that her father had had a daughter with his new partner - so my mum also gained a sister - who became my godmother. So it can be that not only do you or could you reconnect with your biological father, you could potentially gain so much more. It's a difficult decision.

Hope that right after recording this video you called your dad and told him how blessed you feel for having him around and how proud of him you are. Little I know about you through your videos, I think you got a better deal here. Mr. Gordon has been a great dad. Be grateful to the universe for this. Every soul has a few holes. People try silly things trying to fill those holes but not every one is as lucky as you are.

This was an emotional topic for me as well. I was adopted at a young age and I too never met my birth father or my birth mother. I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan and was lucky to have such a loving and wonderful family. I have met my biological family on my mother's side including 3 birth half sisters one who lives in New Zealand. I've met my 100 year old aunt as well as my 98 year old Uncle and numerous cousins and a few nephews. So it's been a journey for me as well. It's so great to hear about your experience and how well you've turned out!

The best thing in you is, you are open you are very clear at your heart and you share your bygone life with us. It's a great thing. You are lucky to have such a brave woman as your mother and your Dad who brought you up to this stage. It's time to move on. Love from Mumbai, India.

You did great! The past should stay in the past. Just keep it for experience and move on. Big hug for your courage to open up 🤗

Привет, Алина! Been following you on youtube for some time now. Your life's story, how you're from Ukraine, but being raised in Canada always amazed me. Thanks for sharing another part of it. I have a similar one. I was born and live in Estonia. Both my parents are from Bashkortostan, USSR, though they've met each other in Estonia. I was raised just by my mom alone, my dad was never really a part of my life. But from the relationship my parents had and the story that my mom told me, I don't really blame him. Just like you, I think that is their story, not mine to share. When I grew up I didn't feel like I missed anything though. Even though my mom told me about my father when I was probably 5. It was only after I was 16, I started thinking about my father, though not too much. When I met my wife, she always asked me if I would ever want to meet my father, I always said I wouldn't mind it, and kind of interested in it. She was always supportive of the idea of finding him, so I think only thanks to her, in 2016, when I was 26, I finally decided to do it. It turned out way easier than I always thought it would be. My mom kept a lot of letters from my dad from the late 80's and on them was his address. Since he was from a tiny village, in those tiny villages everybody knows everyone. And with the magic of the internet I found people who had relatives in that village to this day and they of course knew my father and his family. That way I came in contact first with my relatives by my father's line and then my father came in contact with me himself. It was nice to meet not so much my father, but as it was all my relatives (turned out there are a lot of them). I've met most of my relatives (including my father) in 2017, went to visit them in Bashkortostan, Russia. Planning to visit them for the second time next month, this year. As for meeting my father, I'm really glad I did, but it was nothing too special or personal, because he was never really a part of my life, nor did he ever wanted or planned to be. But to be honest I think I only really had that feeling of meeting him, because I never had a father figure in my life, unlike you. Otherwise I would not have wanted to meet him. Then again, don't know for sure. My wife told me how her dad was also raised not by his biological father, and how he loved him, but still always wanted to meet his biological father.

You are such a wonderful person. I am so much influenced by you now that it is my biggest desire to meet you. You have gone through so much in your personal life at a young age and yet keep spreading enormous positive vibes through your vlogs is incredible. A father is neither an anchor to hold us back nor a sail to take us there but a guiding light whose love shows us the way. Daughters naturally crave connection with their fathers & they especially cherish emotional and physical affection from their fathers. In fact, when girls & dads have a stronger connection, daughters do better in life on a number of different levels. And please don't you ever shed tears as you look awesome when you keep smiling.

You've had a tough start to life but you and your mother initially struggled early in your life but you have come out well. It has made yiu both tough and worldly. Lots of love and best wishes to you both.

I am proud of you. Thank you for sharing. You are the best!

I really like this video Alina I'm so sorry that you never met your biological father your a very strong person for sharing this I had a wonderful childhood growing up in Canada for the most part keep up the good work 👍 yeah holding on to too much anger and resentment can be bad for you you just have to let it go and find a fresh start.

I admire your sincerity. you aren't the only who have been hurt anytime. But i just want you to know that you are really cute and you deserve to be happy. You're lucky because you still have a family back in Canada, people who love you -your mother and Gordon-

Alina, I just stumbled over your channel. You have a gift telling life stories, and have reached an almost philosophical state musing about circumstances, and life. You head is in the right place! I do like that. So I subscribed to hear more about you and your journey! BTW, my friend is Russian, married to a German friend of mine... (of which I am "guilty"... long story).

I know your pain. Brave of you to put it out in KZfaq. It helps to share and talk about it. Good cry does well. I have similar story. # Perseveranceprevails