The Benefits of Optimism During Conflict
“The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible” (Winston Churchill). Positivity is a valuable mindset, yet can be acquired by even those in the direst of conditions and those who have the meagerest of resources. Through all the hardships and difficulties in the world, it is those with optimism that persevere, inspire, and overcome the suffering. It is those who forgive and spread their positivity that heal from the wounds caused by others’ cruelty, such as Anne Frank, author of “Anne Frank: Diary Of a Young Girl”, a memoir which details the experiences of a young girl and her family forced into hiding from the Nazis. Another inspiring story comes from “Dear …show more content…
“Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl”, a memoir by Anne Frank, details Anne’s experiences in the Annex, and shows her strength in enduring the exiguous conditions in the cramped and confined attic. She wrote, “Thanks to Father -who brought my entire postcard and movie-star collection here beforehand -and to a brush and a pot of glue, I was able to plaster the wall with pictures. It looks much more cheerful” (Frank). In Anne Frank’s case, her determination to stay lighthearted despite her struggles against racial prejudice lifted the spirits of those around her, and made the miserable conditions she had to suffer easier to bear. Furthermore, Anne’s positive outlook on life facilitated her efforts to accept her situation, allowing her to come to terms with the sudden decision to shelter in the Annex. She wrote in her diary, “I don't think I'll ever feel at home in this house, but that doesn't mean I hate it. It's more like being on vacation in some strange pension. Kind of an odd way to look at life in hiding, but that's how things are” (Frank). Anne’s acceptance of her circumstances helped her overcome her internal conflict, having left behind her home, belongings, and friends, and let her live blithely rather than dwell in the past. Similarly, a young girl forced to live in a Japanese internment camp during World War II utilizes her optimism as a device to help her persevere through the desolate conditions in the camps. In “Dear Miss Breed” by Joanne Oppenheim, Louise Ogawa writes of the beauty in her surroundings, detailing how the trip has made her realize the magnificence in the work of nature. Additionally, Oppenheim states,“In spite of all the difficulties, Louise's positive and patriotic spirit rings true in these final words of her letter: "If American soldiers can endure hardships so can we!" (Oppenheim). Louise’s defiance and
“The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible” (Winston Churchill). Positivity is a valuable mindset, yet can be acquired by even those in the direst of conditions and those who have the meagerest of resources. Through all the hardships and difficulties in the world, it is those with optimism that persevere, inspire, and overcome the suffering. It is those who forgive and spread their positivity that heal from the wounds caused by others’ cruelty, such as Anne Frank, author of “Anne Frank: Diary Of a Young Girl”, a memoir which details the experiences of a young girl and her family forced into hiding from the Nazis. Another inspiring story comes from “Dear …show more content…
“Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl”, a memoir by Anne Frank, details Anne’s experiences in the Annex, and shows her strength in enduring the exiguous conditions in the cramped and confined attic. She wrote, “Thanks to Father -who brought my entire postcard and movie-star collection here beforehand -and to a brush and a pot of glue, I was able to plaster the wall with pictures. It looks much more cheerful” (Frank). In Anne Frank’s case, her determination to stay lighthearted despite her struggles against racial prejudice lifted the spirits of those around her, and made the miserable conditions she had to suffer easier to bear. Furthermore, Anne’s positive outlook on life facilitated her efforts to accept her situation, allowing her to come to terms with the sudden decision to shelter in the Annex. She wrote in her diary, “I don't think I'll ever feel at home in this house, but that doesn't mean I hate it. It's more like being on vacation in some strange pension. Kind of an odd way to look at life in hiding, but that's how things are” (Frank). Anne’s acceptance of her circumstances helped her overcome her internal conflict, having left behind her home, belongings, and friends, and let her live blithely rather than dwell in the past. Similarly, a young girl forced to live in a Japanese internment camp during World War II utilizes her optimism as a device to help her persevere through the desolate conditions in the camps. In “Dear Miss Breed” by Joanne Oppenheim, Louise Ogawa writes of the beauty in her surroundings, detailing how the trip has made her realize the magnificence in the work of nature. Additionally, Oppenheim states,“In spite of all the difficulties, Louise's positive and patriotic spirit rings true in these final words of her letter: "If American soldiers can endure hardships so can we!" (Oppenheim). Louise’s defiance and