Okay oops, that isn't what I meant to post about at all. I get sidetracked typing, because I can type as fast as I think, so I just sit down at the computer and let my thoughts pour out. My point was that I went to the library! While in there I stumbled across, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl... so I took it! I read it in just a few days which is pretty impressive with how little time I have to read! and I LOVED it. The writing itself fascinated me, but I just love history so much and to get a glimpse into her perspective and what was happening to her and her peers was just... crazy I guess is the only word. The whole time I was reading of the horrors, I thought, thank God for Winston Churchill and brave men like my PopPop who would invade on D-Day to fight such radicals -- Nazism, Socialism, Communism.
Like it or not... EXCEPT for stopping these awful "ism's" war never solved anything. I bet that those Jews sure were grateful to have rescuers that were willing to invade other countries for peace in the long term. What is so terrifying to me is that the ideals that were being promoted by these Nazi's and other radicals have invaded our own country by our own people (if I have to claim liberal democrats as part of us) and it's seeped in so slowly 'nobody' has realized it! This is crazy!!! I'll save that for another post, this is supposed to be about Anne and her beauty.
I am pretty sure I had to read this in school at some point, but I just don't remember it. When forced to read a book for school, I really didn't get a lot out of it (if I even read it) compared to when I get to read it on my own. Maybe I just get so much more out of the books I re-read now because of how much I've changed and grown.
Anne was absolutely amazing to me. I really can relate to her in a lot of ways, as I'm sure every reader can, which is what made the diary so popular. But my favorite portions of the journal were Anne's optimism and the lack of fear of death and harm that was headed her way. She was able to find purpose, meaning and beauty in the midst of her storm, what I would call being resilient.
Here she is trapped, completely bound and as un-free as I can imagine being on this earth, and she writes this, "I looked out the open window too, over a large area of Amsterdam, over all the roofs and on to the horizon, which was such a pale blue that it was hard to see the dividing line, 'As long as this exists' I thought, 'and I may live to see it, this sunshine, the cloudless skies, while this lasts, I cannot be unhappy'. The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature, and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of Nature. As long as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles."
Incredible! One of the reasons that I think Carolina is one of the most beautiful states. The Carolina blue cloudless skies. The skies on our honeymoon were also fantastic.. I'll never forget how beautiful the ocean was - so endless and beautiful - it gave me peace looking at it as always and was humbling to watch and gaze at with Brandon at the start of our life together as husband and wife.
Later she writes,
"And in the evening when I lie in bed and end my prayers with the words, 'I thank you, God, for all that is good and dear and beautiful!' I am filled with joy. Then I think about 'the good' of going into hiding, of my health and with my whole being of the dearness of Peter, of that which is still embyronic and impressionable and which we neither dare to name or touch, of that which will come sometime; love, the future, happiness and of the beauty which exists in the world, the world, nature, beauty and all, all that is exquisite and fine. I don't think then of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains. This is one of the things that Mummy and I are so entirely different about. Her counsel when one feels melancholy is, 'think of all the misery in the world and be thankful that you are not sharing in it!' My advise is, 'Go outside to the fields, enjoy nature and the sunshine, go out and try to recapture happiness in yourself and in God. Think of all the beauty that's still left in and around you and be happy!'. I don't see how Mummy's idea can be right, because then how are you supposed to behave if you go through the misery yourself? Then you are lost. On the contrary, I've found that there is always some beauty left - in nature, sunshine, freedom, in yourself, these can all help you. Look at these things, then you find yourself again, and God and then you regain your balance. And whoever is happy will make others happy too. He who has courage and faith will never perish in misery!"
OUTSTANDING!! From a 13 year old. I thought these were some of the most well written and best lessons a person can take away from life. Life goes on, how will you react to your circumstances. What will you focus on? I agree with Anne, I don't think the thing to do is ever compare yourself to other's situations. If you're miserable, your mind will wander and will compare your situation to others that are doing better really. Just focus on beauty, focus on positive and good things. Most importantly focus on God who is the creator of all things beautiful. Her words have touched me deeply. I understand her so much -- these are thoughts I have had too!
I have a good hunch that Anne was a sanguine personality like me -- especially because of all the chapters when she speaks of trying to tame her tongue! I really enjoyed this book!
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