The Secret Garden

I just finished The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I loved it. I read it as a kid but I think I enjoyed it more as an adult. I loved her descriptive writing and the imagery it conveyed. I felt like I was in the garden. I loved the message of hope and renewal. One of my favorite passages is on p.256
At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done--then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago. One of the new things people began to find out in the last century is that thoughts-- just mere thoughts--are as powerful as electric batteries--as good for one as the sunlight is, or as bad for one as poison. To let a sad thought or a bad one get into your mind is as dangerous as letting a scarlet fever germ get into your body. If you let it stay there after it has got in you may never get over it as long as you live.
This book inspired me to be more optimistic and let good thoughts replace the bad. It also inspired me to do more gardening:) I recomend it.

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Today I finally finished the Diary of Anne Frank. It was a pretty slow read for me, but as her diary progressed she became increasingly moving and inspiring. Her attitude and courage through such frightening and confining circumstances was inspiring to me. She was optimistic and continually filled her time with books and learning. Throughout the book her insights to life become more and more profound--much beyond her fourteen years. Anyways, I loved it and think everyone should read it. (Reading it in school doesn't count)

I'll share the highlights from my favorite journal entry. In it she is relating a conversation she had with a young boy named Peter who was in hiding with her family. She asked him, "Quite honestly, I can't imagine how anyone can say, "I'm weak, and then remain so." After all, if you know it, why not fight against it, why not try to train your character? The answer was: "Because it's much easier not to!" This rather discouraged me. Easy? Does that mean that a lazy, deceitful life is an easy life...I thought a long time about the best answer to give Peter, how to get him to believe in himself and above all improve himself...How can I make it clear to him that what appears easy and attractive will drag him down into the depths, depths where there is no comfort to be found. We all have hopes for much happiness but we must all earn it for ourselves. And that is never easy...Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction. "

Can you believe a fourteen year old girl wrote this? I think it is so insightful.

One more quote that is actually related.
"How noble and good everyone could be if, every evening before falling asleep, they were to recall to their minds the events of the whole day and consider what has been good and bad. Then, without realizing it, you try to improve yourself at the start of each new day; of course, you achieve quite a lot in the course of time."

I think I will put this quote by my bed. I think Anne Frank was an amazing young girl. So sad her life was cut short with such great potential. I wonder, though, if through her death she actually influenced more people for good. Who will ever know.