Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Diana Daniele of Los Angeles, CA

We recently had the chance to connect with Diana Daniele and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Diana, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
I am chasing the dream of a book deal for my WIP (Work In Progress) with a Top Five publisher in New York City. My dream is to share my own very raw and vulnerable story, and in doing so, offer readers a road map to healing and self-acceptance.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a journalist, turned publicist, turned advocate, turned author. That’s been my path since I graduated from UCLA with a degree in Mass Media/Communications and USC Annenberg, with a Masters in Journalism. I have also completed coursework in English Literature at St Catherine’s College at the University of Cambridge, England and in Philology at the University of Madrid, Complutense. I am bilingual in Spanish. Currently, my website, which is dianadanielepr.com, features my journalistic and personal essay writing, my work as a public relations executive, my advocacy work for invisible illness and my book journey, thus far. Next up for me is to query literary agents for my manuscript.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was a shy, curious, poetry-writing, ocean-loving, laughing, baking, singing, dancing person.

The World told me I had to be “perfect” and “cool” to be loved and accepted. This wrong thought lead me to fear that the secret I kept–the fact that I was not “normal” and that I’d never be “good enough”–would come out, and I would lose everything. Instead, I lost myself.

My WIP tells the story of my identity crisis, and the mental and physical ramifications that came about from going down that rabbit hole. It is ultimately it is a journey of healing, transformation, and self-acceptance.

I wish to share my story, in hopes of helping others, because today I am free to be myself, and that is an incredible gift.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain and started using me power, after I survived a decade of physical and mental hardship. Coming out the other side, I decided to tell my story, which has become my purpose.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe in God–what others might call the Universe or a Higher Power. I believe in destiny, synchronicity, soul mates, and the power of faith, love, connection, and transformation.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing? 
I will regret not publishing my book, so everyday I work toward that goal, in one way or another.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Adrianne Mathiowetz Photography

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