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That’s the uplifting message from Dianne Adams, inspirational speaker, photographer, mother, wife, friend, and sister, who spoke at the spring meeting of the South Bruce chapter of the Retired Women Teachers of Ontario, Thursday afternoon (May 6), at the Walker House restaurant in Southampton.

Born in Richmond Hill, Adams began her journey after high school graduation, going to college for business administration and marketing. She worked as a waitress and an administrative assistant, and later as manager of data processing.

She and her partner then moved to northern Ontario to operate a snowmobile dealership. They parted ways, and she moved back to Richmond Hill, where she met and married her husband, John.

Adams went on to become an accounting manager and a controller but she still felt unsettled, as if she should be doing something else.

They moved to Owen Sound to operate the Pet Valu store there. She took a part-time job apart from that, and then the wheels fell off. She was burned out and had to take a break.

“The interesting thing was that during those days when I was in such a dark place, that’s when I started writing beautiful, inspirational quotes,” she says. “Then, one day, I was feeling better and I pulled out my writings, and I said ‘A-ha!’ I had found the treasure I’d been searching for all my  life – it was inside me.”

She has gone from an accountant to a healer, photographer and inspirational speaker. She and her husband and two sons now live in Oliphant.

“I say to all of you, if you’re looking for your treasure outside, in a house or a car, look in the mirror and you’ll find it there, in you,” says Adams.

That’s when her real journey began.

“I started E-mailing my writings to friends and family, and I called them ‘Wisdom Words,” Adams says, “and I got responses back from people that the words were exactly what they needed to hear, and it was as if the words were written specifically for them.”

From there, she began taking photographs that she didn’t believe she could take. “I am truly humbled by what I’m trying to accomplish here,” she says.

Wisdom Words are sent out once per week through the Internet, and the responses have been marvelous, says Adams.

“A girl from Indonesia wrote to thank me for the strength to get through another day – those words gave her hope,” she says. “It’s about making a difference.”

The words are going all across Canada, the United States, Australia and beyond.

“It doesn’t matter what age you are – if your 20 or 80 – if there’s something in your life you want to accomplish, you can do it,” says Adams. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a size two or a size 20, blond or brunette, tall or short, you are wonderful just the way you are. Your beauty comes from the inside, not the outside. Dream big and don’t let anyone stop you from accomplishing great things.”

Carole Machan (L) presents the Cora Bailey award to Joan Kirkham

Dianne Adams holds up one of her prints about “Strength”

Adams says we all have a book inside of us and it all starts the same with our birth – God’s gift. Then, we begin writing one beautiful chapter after another on our journey through life.

“We have friends and family who are with us throughout our lives, or who just stop in for awhile,” she says. “Perhaps they taught us a lesson or we taught them a lesson, or maybe they just made for a really interesting story. 

“You can change the direction of your life now – your options are limitless. If you want to build a beautiful garden, go get some seeds. Some books will be romances, others tragedies, or humorous or a series of books. It’s your novel, it’s your legacy.”

Adams urges people to learn from the past, embrace the future, but live for the moment because it’s the most important time of all.

She also encourages everyone to become more positive about life by following four steps:

• Don’t respond to gossip.
• Make your expectations clear and let people know what you want.
• Timing is everything.
• Don’t beat yourself up – don’t stress or worry that you’re not good enough.

“You all have a best-seller inside of you, and I can hardly wait to read it,” Adams says.

Besides being an inspirational speaker, Adams is a personal life coach and a healer. She also sells framed and matted prints of her photographs linked with her inspirational words. She can be reached at wisdomwords@sympatico.ca or 519-534-3610, or check out her website at www.wisdomwords.ca.

In other news at the meeting, Joan Kirkham has received the Cora Bailey award in recognition of her service to the branch of the Retired Women Teachers of Ontario.

Kirkham is also looking for help with the community flower beds in Kincardine. A plaque, recognizing the group’s hard work, would be installed beside the flower beds.