~ Diamonds ~

"Your diamonds are not in far distant mountains
or in younder seas;
they are in your own backyard,
if you but dig for them."

-Russell H. Conwell

There is a story Conwell told in his lecture which had enormous appeal. It recounted the life of a Persian farmer named Ali Hafed who sold his farm and left his family to travel the world in search of wealth. He looked everywhere but he could not find the diamonds he lusted after. Finally, alone and in despair as a homeless pauper, he ended his own life. His search for riches had consumed him.

In the meantime, the man who bought the land from Hafed was grateful for 'every blade of grass' that was now his and lavished love and hard work on his farm. At night, surrounded by his family and eating the fruits of his labor, he was a contented man. Finally one day he made a remarkable discovery. In the backyard that Ali Hafed had abandoned was a diamond mine - literally an acre of diamonds. The simple farmer became wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.

When I first read this story, it made me think about Gratitude first - his success second. 
Being grateful for what is right in front of us  everyday - our family, friends, the food we eat, the clothes on our back, the warm beds we sleep in, is truly the weathliest success we could ever have. 
"Being grateful doesn't cost anything - yet it brings the most wealth."  So many people are searching for their diamonds elsewhere ... always looking out - beyond their own "backyard" when in fact, our need for fulfillment has been right in our face all along. AND if we can't be grateful for what we have right now, this day - how are we ever going to be given more?

"We all have an acre of diamonds waiting to be discovered, cherished and mined. We all have a place from where to begin. Let your imagination soar, for it is your soul's blueprint for success. On this path, you will discover that your own opportunity for personal success, authentic happiness, and financial serenity is as close as your own backyard."  ~Simple Abundance

Really "look" at your diamonds today - all of those precious stones around you.  Give thanks for them - be grateful.  Something will awaken and light up inside when you do.  And when you do, you will find the need to "dig" elsewhere for happiness, no longer exists ... everything in your life is before you.

I'm going to leave you with one of my most favorite thoughts on gratitude:

"Gratitude is the axe for the frozen sea inside us."

Here's to discovering our own diamonds right before us today!  : )

p.s.... - haven't shared "dessert" in awhile!  This video is one of my most favorite EVER - on gratitude.  Watch it.  It will truly touch your heart and soul ... and might even change something within.  xoxo