I've been putting off highlight Anne Frank because she has been such an important influence in my life and the life of so many that I wanted it to be something special.
So when I came across 14 year old artist Millie and her amazing drawings, in particular of female heroines, I knew she would be the perfect fit for sharing the wonderful, young life of Anne Frank.
Not only did Millie create a t shirt design that is stylish but it is also meaningful and inspiring. Here are some of Millie's own words of how much Anne has taught her.
The Attitude of Anne Frank
By Millie Julia
Annelies Marie Frank, or as she is know by the world, Anne Frank, would be 90 years old this year if she had lived.
On her thirteenth birthday, she was given a red and white checked diary. Less than a month later, she was hiding in the “Secret Annex” with her father, mother, and sister, Margot. Not speaking, never leaving the cluster of rooms, constantly in fear of being discovered and killed.
Despite this, she kept a miraculously happy and grateful view of everything. Trying to decide a quote to put on this shirt, I was shocked that every single one of them trumpeted a positive message. All of her quotes are amazing.
And that’s just the thing. I don’t know why Anne wrote in the journal. Whether it was a distraction from what was going on outside the world inside her diary, or something to help her from being drowned in a sea of despair and heartache and loss and war, I don’t know.
But I know that Anne had no idea that her journal would be found by the soldiers. Or that her father would carry out her wish to have it published. I don’t think she knew that more than 30 million copies of her diary would be sold, or that it would be translated into 70 languages, or that it would touch so many hearts. Or that, as she put herself, would “go on living after my death. And therefore I am grateful to God for giving me this gift… of expressing all that is me.”
And despite not knowing any of this, she wrote on the bright side. She was in the midst of a senseless war, and she was the target. And yet, she reminds us that there is always love and goodness in the world and “that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world”. Little did she know that she would be one to be that change.
I hope that I, though I just turned 14 a week ago, and you, no matter how old you are, not matter where you’re from or what you look like, that he can “think of all the beauty still left around us and be happy”
Moral of the Story:
We can find hope, even in the darkest of times and our words and experiences can bring hope to others if we are willing to share.
Activity:
In the Dear Daughter Journal there is a page in which it prompts deep thought over a quote directly from Anne's diary. Print this page out to hep discuss with your child what we can benefit from seeing the good even in times of bad.
Questions for discussion:
What did Anne have to be sad about?
What if her diary was filled with angry or sad things?
How can seeing her have a positive attitude during such a difficult time can help you have a better attitude in your struggles?
What does it mean to believe most people are good?
Do you think most people are good?
The Anne Tee:
Shop the Anne Frank Tee for pre-order only. Order from now until July 19th. Orders will be shipped July 26th.