My current favorite thing is...
This quote from "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl:"
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.
With Tuesday marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, picking up Anne Frank's diary felt appropriate. I'm always drawn to certain books during different times of the year. For example, every fall I always want to re-read the Harry Potter series for a couple of reasons: I first read them in the fall and with each book starting at the beginning of the school year, it fits. I tend to read holiday themed books during the months of November and December and love picking up "Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton during the dreary months of February/March. And in the summer I love a good "beach read" or just a lighter book in general (looking at you chic lit).
But I admit this anniversary snuck up on me. I always knew my birthday fell on the same day as the liberation of Auschwitz, but I didn't realize the significance of this year. 70 years.
In some ways 70 years feels like a lifetime ago (as it should, it is). But in other ways, especially when considering the atrocities that happened during WWII, it's too close. These concentration camps were imagined, built and used in the twentieth century. This isn't like when you read about ancient history and you think about how far you've come, it was more recent than that. Too recent.
If you've never read "The Diary of a Young Girl" the English teacher in me is about to come out. Do it. Consider it your homework. Sometimes I stay away from books with tough subjects (ie: "Unbroken") because I want my reading to be an escape and reading these types of books is draining, emotionally exhausting.
But, in my opinion, it's needed. I need to read these books. I need to see what humans are capable of: both the good and bad. But more than the bad I need to see the power of the human spirit. What we can survive.
Plus, upon reading Anne Frank or any book covering difficult subject-matter, the above quote means so much more. At any moment you can do something, anything, to improve the world, no matter your situation. This can be something as simple as a random act of kindness or even just being kind. Or simply having compassion for others instead of passing judgment. Kindness and love are the things that will cause the most change. I can't say it better than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr:
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
And no, I haven't read "Unbroken"...yet. It's on my list, but I'm waiting for my goal of a book a week for a year to be finished so I can take my time. The one thing with books like this is that I need to slowly work my way through it and take breaks, as needed. Plus, frequently there's a recovery period needed after I've finished. So, come March, this book will be tackled.
{P.S. If you like quotes and my thoughts on them, check out this post I wrote about how comparison is the thief of joy.}
xo Sara