Diamond in the Dark

By Daniel Waudby

Diamond in the Dark is more than a book about the fantasies of love and life. It's an expression of self - turning heartbreak and trauma into words of art. This book offers an insight into the mind of a man that expresses his desires of finding his one true love -

"I never knew, I would find the universe in someone's eyes till I found an ocean of stars when I look into yours".

Through a series of traumatic events in his life - battling severe anxiety / depression / suicide, he had found a way through the darkness to find his own "Diamond in the Dark".

You may be triggered - as you progress through the book to the darkest aspects of life. However, one thing is for sure -

"Throughout the darkest of nights comes the brightest of days. The sun will always rise again and so shall you".

Followed by the rising of the sun - we gain a wider view of the experience that never came into fruition, which grew into "Diamonds in the Dark".

"Sometimes the things that never happened are the best thing to ever happen"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel Waudby
• Release date: Aug 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781923061033

Book preview

Introduction

Kia ora & Hello! My name is Dan. I’m from a little town in Aotearoa aka New Zealand called Palmerston North. I moved to Australia in 2011 when I was 20 years old, and boy has it been an absolute journey! I’ve gone from leaving New Zealand with no career prospect, no real direction then I moved to Australia and found myself having to adapt and learn how to survive in a new country after being left alone.

I was a terrified 20-year-old that didn’t even know how to catch a bus in this vast country. However, one thing is for sure, growing up in New Zealand – taught me how to take care of business & keep a roof over my head. One thing I did have was the determination and will power to adapt & overcome adversity. My first job I had was pushing furniture trollies for Super Amart at the Queensland Distribution Centre in Banyo, To the credit of my now ex-wife and the mother of my daughter. She had helped me to realise my potential and supported me to study in 2012 & pursue a career in Automotive before gaining an apprenticeship in the same year with Audi Centre Brisbane.

During 2013 I made the switch and moved to Audi Centre Gold Coast & during my time there, I was nominated and awarded the 2014 ‘2nd Year Apprentice of the Year’ by Audi Australia before completing my qualification in 2016. In that same year, I made the decision to leave a successful career to pursue a potential future in the construction industry. Fast forward to today (November 2021), where I am now successfully self-employed in the construction industry installing custom Glass splashbacks, mirrors, shower screens, and wardrobes.

Now, you’re probably thinking; Yeah dude, look man, I get it. Your career path has been crazy but what has that got to do with writing a book about love, emotions and trauma?.

Well, let me fill you in my friend!

I wrote this book at a time when I was at my lowest at the tail end of 2021. I fell heavily into a spiral of depression and back to what felt like rock bottom. I hit a place, that I thought I would never end up again after my wife left me. I guess that’s love and life, right?!

Instead of reverting back to the normal way of healing i.e., drinking away the pain etc. I thought to myself, I need to do something I haven’t done before to gain a different outcome and so began the bleeding onto the pages. The outcome I’m hoping for from me sharing my experiences, through this book then maybe you, yes you! Might find healing, in the pages for yourself in whatever capacity that may look like.

Don’t just read this book – Feel it.

Don’t just see the words – Fall into them.

In the words of one my idols – Stimulate a thought – Change your view.

Look at everything from a wider perspective and gain a larger understanding of what’s really going on instead of sitting in the raw emotion, which can cloud your judgement if you fall to far into the experience.

Stop, Breathe, Re-focus, Re-adjust and Re-view your feelings. See it from a wider perspective to gain the clarity that you’re searching for.

Trust your gut & Trust your intuition.

If you see Red Flags, then see it for what it is. Assess, Adjust & Move. But learn to differentiate between what is and what isn’t. Because some Red Flags really aren’t. However, some are so blatantly obvious that they are slapping you harder than a toddler running away with a mouthful of lollies, that they stole from the cupboards and running for freedom.

Basically, in closing,

Get out of your own way,

Step out of your head - get into your heart

&

Live your best life,

Welcome and I hope you enjoy

‘Diamond in the Dark’

Trigger warning:

Some of the stories in this book may trigger you. Especially if you suffer from trauma’s pertaining to domestic violence, rape, abuse etc. However, if you do feel those emotions start to surface, Flow with them like water gliding over rocks in a river. Don’t fight the current, flow with the current, become one with the current. I wrote this book to help heal myself and to hopefully help you find a sense of healing from my book.

CHAPTER ONE

The Sunset

Here is where we will walk through my hopes, dreams and thoughts with love, finding love to call my own and the experience of time.

WARNING: Some content contains R Rated topics

In a world with trillions of people all I ask for,

is for one woman to love.

To love like the fairy tales in the books I grew up reading,

To love me when I walk through storms,

To love her extra when she can’t love herself,

To love together as we both hold hands mapping the stars with our hopes and dreams

I don’t want flashy materialistic things, I want the memories made sitting under the stars locked eyes gently kissing each other under an ocean of galaxies above.

So