“A Person Who’s Happy Will Make Others Happy; A Person Who Has Courage and Faith Will Never Die in Misery!”– are the courageous words of a 13-year old Jewish girl by the name of Anne Frank. The quote can be found in the diary that she kept for two years while in hiding from the Nazi regime. Originally published on June 25th, 1947, the seemingly innocent but insightful journal has sold more than 30 million copies in 67 different languages. The “diary” – a gift Anne received on her 13th birthday, has been filled with entries in the form of letters written to a person named “Kitty”, a character that is most likely an imaginary friend.
Who Was Anne Frank?
Anne Frank was a gifted child. One with a strong sense of compassion and a capacity for deep thought exceptional for someone her age. Born on June 12th, 1929, Annelies Marie Frank was the daughter of a German businessman. When her sister Margot suddenly faced the risk of being sent to a Nazi concentration camp, her father was left with no choice but to take his entire family into hiding. They secretly took up residence in an attic apartment right next to the family’s place of business. For some time they were able to survive with the help of some non-Jewish friends, providing them with food and other necessities. During the 761 days that she and her family were in the “Secret Annex” was when she wrote in her famous diary. Enthusiastically and devotedly she recorded daily entries of her experiences, thoughts, fears, and aspirations. Today, that diary – The Diary of a Young Girl, is one of the most widely read books in the world. It provides a powerful glimpse of life amidst the Holocaust in the eyes of a curious and remarkable young girl.
What is the meaning of the quote?
Beauty remains, even in misfortune. If you just look for it, you discover more and more happiness and regain your balance. A person’s who’s happy will make others happy; a person who has courage and faith will never die in misery.The Diary of Anne Frank – March 7, 1944
The 761 days of hiding were filled with extreme tension. Eight individuals – Anne’s family along with 4 others, were forced to live in constant fear of being captured, executed, or forced into intense labor camp with some of the harshest conditions known to human kind.
Apart from not being able to go outside under any circumstances, they had to remain quiet at all times to avoid detection from anyone nearby. Outside she could hear the chaos that ensues. Explosions, panic, and genocide were common occurrences during the Holocaust. In spite of the misery and misfortune, Anne took it upon herself to make sure to see the beauty in the world around her. Faith and courage drove her young mind to rise above her dire circumstance and see the world in a more positive light.
Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.Anne Frank
Anne’s Positive Outlook in Life
Anne Frank’s surprisingly positive outlook can be seen throughout her journal. Despite her heightened fear in those dangerous circumstances, hearing her friends being captured and sent to labor camps or executed, the uncertain fate of her family she was still able to maintain an outlook on life that only few in the same situation would be able to muster. Her approach was one of faith that fueled her drive to seek happiness and beauty in the midst of misery and chaos. Despite everything she continued to acknowledge the goodness in humanity even when faced with the reality of being mercilessly hunted down and treated inhumanely for being a Jew.
Appreciating the Small Things in Life
Anne and her family along with the four other dwellers of the Secret Annex were eventually discovered and captured. She and her sister were sent into a concentration camp in Germany where they died due to illness and harsh conditions. Anne Frank’s short and difficult life was made colorful due in no small part to her ability to appreciate the small things in life, even when faced with everyday fear for her life and confinement.
Frankl, who was an Austrian psychiatrist as well as a concentration camp survivor followed a principle similar to that of Anne. Fortunately he was able to survive his time in a concentration camp and describe his circumstances vividly in his book, The Unheard Cry for Meaning. The book itself is a testament to the human will and spirit and reminds us of the way we take for granted the little things in our lives.
Frankl emphasized the simple things that we fail to appreciate in our daily lives – having good food on the table, a roof over our heads, and the good health of our loved ones. Albeit simple, these things are often taken for granted unless they are gone or taken away. Only when they are gone, it is when we start to realize how grateful we should have been all this time.
Bringing out the Best in People
Learning the skill to display courage and a positive outlook in the face of adversity is vital not only in leadership but also in our everyday life. Courage and positive outlook are life skills that help in the attainment of success and happiness which can, in turn, influence those around us.
As human beings, we are prone to social influence and our moods can be changed in a positive way by those around us. Therefore, cultivating the ability to appreciate the small things in life and maintaining a positive outlook can turn even in most desperate situations (and people) into something they never expect.