The Lonely Life of a Diamond

by: Lanisha Porter

I wonder if anyone has ever taken the time to think about the life of a diamond and how lonely it could be. People admire diamonds; we are taught from early on that diamonds are among the greatest and most valuable gems to ever have. However, unable to afford a diamond—especially one with multiple carats—many people just closely glare at the diamond recognizing it's beauty and worth but always moves down the glass for something less costly. Realizing that the worth of the diamond is too much of a financial investment to commit to, they settle for something tremendously less costly but something that mimics the features of a diamond. 

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After a series of the same episode of watching people admire it and then praise it, but only to abandon it for something more easily accessible, worries the diamond. It isolates the diamond in aloneless.The diamond begins to wonder "what do the other gems have that I don't have?" What is it about me that it suppose to attract people but instead forces them to flee time and time again? "What is wrong with me? I thought I was built to have people fall dangerously in love me" The diamond ponders. The diamond then secretly becomes remorseful for its intrinsic value. It entertains the thought that maybe the lengthy process it went through just wasn't worth it. You see...you have to understand the tedious and turbulent process a diamond undergoes before it can ever become an illustrious gem. A diamond is extracted from a deep place under the Earths surface after intense exposure to very high pressure and extreme heat. After, being cut and polished it is put on display. Put on display to be modeled for its value, rareness, and beauty in hopes that someone will buy it—but is only ultimately passed up time and time again. This makes the diamond feel lonely. This makes the diamond reevaluate it's true worth. It tempts the diamond into believing that either it's really not that valuable or maybe it should reduce its value. If people truly wanted the diamond wouldn't they just buy it? Why do they claim they have to spend years saving up to be ready to afford it. 
 
For as much as the diamond shines and as worthy as the diamond is, I wonder who stops and thinks about how lonely a diamond must feel at times. How much a diamond actually probably hates being a diamond. A diamond doesn't get to choose to be a diamond. It only fulfills its nature to be processed into being one. And I'm sure all the other less costly gems quietly laugh at the diamond thinking "I'm glad I wasn't called to be a diamond. The diamond thinks it's so much more worthy than us. The diamond is different...almost weird. It comes from some deeper place I've never been. But I'm actually glad I don't cost that much because I, too, like the diamond may never be easily chosen." For people to continually shop all around the diamond but opt to choose the cubic zirconia makes for a discouraged diamond. In other words, chosen cubic zirconia makes for a lonely diamond. To choose something is to use a critical degree of judgment to arrive at the best decision. To be chosen is an honor because it means someone, presumably, exercised their best judgement and  found in their calculations that you were the best option. In this case, if someone is aiming at the best it seems that the diamond would be chosen being that it is...well, the best. So to not be chosen is enormously insulting to the diamond which leads to feeling of being forsaken.
 
For all the beautiful things on this earth there is also ugliness that closely coexists. For light there is darkness; for childbirth there is pain, for freedom there is spilled blood, and for the diamond there is loneliness. But today I pen this for the woman who has maybe started to regret herself; regret her education, regret that she is too much, regret her ambition, or her morals all because time and time again she has been passed up on. Know that you are a diamond, and you were meant to shine. Its in your nature to do so. Though loneliness may disturb you, don’t let that blind you from how brilliant you are.