Monday, August 1, 2011

A Bundle of Contradictions-Anne Frank’s Final Diary Entry- August 1, 1944

Anne wrote her final entry feeling the weight of discovering her growing personality. She distinguishes the “nice Anne” that is quiet and thoughtful inside from the “superficial Anne” that is so boisterous on the outside. This contradiction, as she sees it, is confusing and she wants these two sides of her personality to come to terms.

What she thought of as a contradiction, was merely a growing personality. We all have those sides that we show and those that we keep hidden or private for ourselves. This entry is a great reminder that when we make judgments about people, we need to really take a deeper look, or better yet, just allow ourselves to be open to understanding and accept whatever others want to share. It’s not that one is bad or good, we are just human beings.

I have read Anne’s diary more than 10 times and today I feel the urge to read it yet again. When I visited her house in Amsterdam, I was taken aback by the realization that her, her family and friends fought to stay alive in those walls and that she would have been so joyous to know that the world sees both her fun and playful side, as well as the depth of her character she kept hidden from those she was in such close contact with.

I sat outside of the house by the canal and quietly contemplated the moment. This contemplation still sits with me. Not only did Anne show us a heart during such a horrendous period and her profound words live on to remind us that we can never allow this to happen again.

Her most stirring lesson to me: Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.” I think of this often and it immediately dispels any negativity I may be feeling.

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be."

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