Mining Your Diamonds
Author: Adele Alfano, Canada's Diamond Coach

I consider Sept 21, 1991 as the day that God gave me a second lease on life. I call this portion: Adele, The Sequel. In this journey of self discovery and exploration,(let me add that it is not over yet!), I have learned that deep within me, and deep within all of us, we have these buried gems, hidden treasures and unexplored diamonds!! Ahh, a diamond. It is the most dazzling accessory that we own. It is the epitome of glamour. Just ask Elizabeth Taylor!. A diamond is also a treasured heirloom, passed on from generation to generation.

What is so great about a diamond? A diamond, unlike a ruby, sapphire or emerald, has three extraordinary characteristics. It is the only gem that has the capacity to absorb and reflect light. Some cultures even consider a diamond to be a congealed drop of sunlight. A diamond is the only gem made from a single compotent:carbon. And lastly, a diamond is the hardest material known to man. It takes one diamond to cut into another one.

Many of us have gone into a retail store to purchase a diamond. A sales clerk will present you with a chart called the four "C"'s of selecting a perfect diamond. They are cut, clarity, color and the most important, carat!!

I have also adapted a similar chart and I call it the four C tools of discovering, exploring, mining and excavating their diamond within and they are CHOICE,CONTENTMENT,COMMITTMENT, AND CULTIVATION. I can guarantee you will not find this in any retail store.

CHOOSE to think differently. We can choose to live these 24 hours in which our thoughts, emotions and deeds are one of hatred, envy, jealousy, and criticism. Or we can choose to live these 24 hours in which our thoughts, emotions, and deeds are one that are loving, joyous, optimistic, encouraging and friendly. Basically, the choice is yours.

Be CONTENT with your genetics and celebrate your uniqueness!!You do not need to be perfect, just be perfectly you. A couple of years ago I saw a play called "Do Patent Leather Shoes Reflect Up" and there was a song in the play called "God does not have a cookie cutter". There are no two things in nature that are the same: no two snowflakes, no two grains of sand, no two fingerprints, no two voices and especially no two diamonds. Why would you choose to be anything but you.

COMMITT to whatever lofty dream or goal you have with every single cell and fibre of your being. No matter what anyone says.

CULTIVATE your thoughts. Choose to seed, sow and harvest beautiful positive flowers rather than seed, sow and harvest,toxic self defeating weeds. And reap the benefits of what you sow.

What makes me such an expert??Ten years ago there was a woman who walked into a doctor's office on the verge of a slow death. She was bordering over 300 pounds, had just lost both her parents, was suffering from severe depression, high cholesterol, skyrocketing blood pressure, daily migraines, lower back and gastro-intestinal problems. This person was a real mess and that mess was me!

Only through shedding 100 pounds and gaining some insights on my inner diamond, have I been able to live life with purpose and passion by following the four C tools.

As of today know that you are a human diamond: that you have the capacity to absorb and reflect light. That you too started as a single cell(much like a diamond). And that other human diamonds,or a tape or book will come into your life to help chip away your diamond in the rough. We tend to forget that we all are sparkling, unique, priceless, flawless, bright, perfect, glimmering,original, valuable, and precious. The very characteristics to describe a diamond!!








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Adele Alfano is considered Canada's Diamond Coach. She is a professional inspirational/motivational speaker associated with the Canadian Assocation of Professional Speakers. Adele specializes in keynotes/seminars/workshops that assist individuals in reaping the benefits of excavating their inner gems of self esteem and self acceptance. She is a former aerobics instructor and columnist for the Hamilton Mountain News. In 1998, she was nominated for Woman of the Year. Her client list includes McMaster University, St.Joseph's Hospital and YWCA of Canada. She can be reached at aalfano@sprint.ca or check out her website www.diamondwithin.com

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