My relation with stories started in childhood with those sweet little bedtime ones, which my mother used to read out to me. I remember that those stories ended with some moral for little kids to imbibe. Later in school, I started searching for books which met my taste. Time took its own twist and turns in my life, and my preferences took its journey from Enid Blyton series through Wimpy Kids to Harry Potter. I remember the day when my father suggested to look for more treasurable ones to read, along with ‘my choices’ and introduced me to the book ‘Diary of a Young Girl’ by Anne Frank.

This book was written during the hardships of World War II. It talks about the difficulties that Europe had to face during this time, primarily the Jews. At one end German police were mercilessly slaying Jews, whereas on the other end, a lot of them were sent to camps and treated as slaves. Anne with her family hides at a Secret Annex, in an old office. Later, they got betrayed which led them to the concentration camp. The only survivor was Anne’s father-Otto Frank. Later he found the diary of his daughter and took initiative to get it published. The daily scribbling addressed to ‘Kitty’, an imaginary friend, started with a line of promise to share everything in her mind and hope to get support and comfort from it. I don’t have an intention to give a summary of the book here. Rather, I would suggest you all to read and experience it.

There are many reasons why I like Anne and her diary, a lot. Hidden in it is the treasure of positive thoughts and points to ponder. Quotes from her diary are well accepted by all of us, to keep ourselves on track and to gain courage to face the miseries of life. I will share some such ones, and how they touched my soul.

First and foremost, when she started writing the diary, she was sure that no one would be interested in reading the mere thoughts of an ordinary teenager; may be not even herself in future read it for a recap of what she has written. Yet, at that moment she wanted to write, and she wrote. That’s it. To live in the present, doing justice to oneself, without worrying about the future was the first lesson of positive living for me.

Further when you go through the book, you can feel the energy of positivity at every worse situation she experienced during the war period. She was happy and could see the beauty of what remained. She could concentrate on the brighter side of what lingered. Even after seeing all the destructions man can bring about, to his fellow beings and nature, she still believed in the goodness of mankind. She was not ready to generalize people. I would say, she was brave enough to confirm and trust that people are good at heart, even though they behave odd at times.

What is done cannot be reversed. But it can be effectively prevented from happening again. Anne wrote it in her diary and I wrote it in my life. Regretting on what has happened is not at all a solution; at least when one don’t care to correct his or her self. What we should always remember is that, for me and you, the option for a Ctrl + Z remain only in computers.

Anne knew that as a woman she had many limitations in a society she lived in. Yet, she never degraded herself. She believed that she possessed immense potential and was proud to be a woman. She had her goal clearly set in mind and was strong enough to have an opinion on every subject which came her way.

Books with insight should be read and taken as a source of inspiration. A big ‘Thank You’ to my family, who gives me opportunity to read such books. Even as kids, who don’t have to worry about anything in life other than our studies, we should learn to take life and its ups and downs positively. Reacting to situations is like you give the key of your happiness to the circumstances and people around. Never let that happen. At such a younger age Anne knew how to approach life. She was always happy, whatever be the circumstance. “If you are happy, then you can make others happy”, Anne always said with a smile on her face.

Also, according to the little Anne Frank, if you want to do something, or bring a change in your life or in the outer world, the right moment is ‘NOW’. How True!!! I have taken note of that and those who read me through www.indiansinkuwait.com please consider it.

The present moment ‘NOW’ is at your discretion. Utilize it!!!

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