Survivor Inspiration

Friday, July 23 2010

I had a great opportunity to meet a Holocaust survivor. She did a speech at an intimate setting that I heard about last minute. I told my good friend about it and we jumped on the chance to go watch. I've seen plenty of stories, movies, etc on the Holocaust and frankly, I was not expecting much. Was I ever wrong. This woman started out by saying, “I don’t want to tell you all the stories you've already heard," but went on to say that she wanted to share her intimate moments, things you would of never heard before. Experiencing this was a great moment in my life. I couldn't believe it, because let's face it it's unbelievable! How could people have survived physically, let alone mentally? How does one continue after living through such horror?

She began to share with us the story of the day she was set free. Her and the other captives were being held in sealed warehouse without windows.  After being brought to this place and in constant fear for her life she and the others had lost track of how long they had been held in this damp dark hell. Her hair had turned white, her body was fragile, she smelled foul, as she hadn't bathed for months and all at the tender age of nineteen.

Then, one a day like any other, there was more than the usual amount of noise coming from the surrounding area.  The warehouse door began to open and while the horrible thoughts of what was going to happen next began to pass through their minds, they looked up and as the door opened they heard a someone speaking English, “It’s ok, we’re American. We’re here to help.”

Disbelief, relief and a wave other emotions flooded their hearts. The American troops then began to help them out of the warehouse and as she made here way outside and approached the military vehicle, one of the soldiers reached out took her hand ever so gently and opened the door the for her.  For so long she had been treated like an animal, this simple courteous gesture by a complete stranger made her feel like a woman and a human again. In that single moment the American GI had changed her life in more ways they she would realize, because later the person who rescued here from hell, treated her like a person and a women for the first time in what felt like a life time would become her husband.

YES! She married the solider that saved her! And as soon as she told us that we were all in tears.

I think about this a lot, I think of how happy and positive she was when she was telling us these stories. I think, “how in the hell could I not try and live my dreams when I have nothing holding me back?! Look what she made it through.” I have great friends, family and tons of opportunity! I look at her story and it gives me hope, it gives me motivation, it keeps my butt moving!

Do what you love. No one can stop you. It's that simple.  

Hugs and Love,
Moni-k:)
“Make it happen, Live the dream, GETNTUIT!!”

[Photo: Vincepal]