What Matters: Lessons from Anne Frank's Father | Cara Wilson-Granat | TEDxTexasStateUniversity

Summary

The speaker reflects on their deep, personal connection with Otto Frank, father of Anne Frank, which began after they auditioned for a movie role about Anne's life. Through years of correspondence, Otto Frank became a mentor, guiding the speaker through personal challenges and inspiring hope even after immense tragedy. Otto's resilience, despite losing his family in the Holocaust, showed the speaker the importance of focusing on love, life, and healing. His words 'it doesn't matter' conveyed the wisdom of letting go of anger, and the speaker shares how this perspective continues to influence them.

Takeaways

• 📖 The speaker began writing to Otto Frank, the father of Anne Frank, when they were 12 years old, establishing a long and cherished friendship.
• 💔 The speaker auditioned for the role of Anne Frank in the 20th Century Fox movie but did not get the part. However, this led to a meaningful correspondence with Otto Frank.
• 🌱 Otto Frank encouraged the speaker to have hope even during difficult times, using the analogy of planting a tree even if the end of the world seemed imminent.
• 🕊️ Despite enduring immense personal loss, Otto Frank chose to transform his pain into a loving force, becoming a mentor to many, including the speaker, and promoting the message of love and hope.
• 📚 Otto Frank published Anne Frank's diary to share her legacy with the world, honoring her wish to live on through her words.
• 🤗 After 18 years of correspondence, the speaker finally met Otto Frank in person, and their meeting was filled with warmth and affection.
• 💌 Otto Frank saved all the letters he received from the speaker, showing that each person who reached out to him mattered deeply to him.
• 😔 When asked about who betrayed them, Otto Frank responded, 'It doesn't matter,' emphasizing his belief in focusing on healing and hope rather than anger and revenge.
• 🌳 Otto Frank’s guidance helped the speaker find the strength to start over during challenging times in their life, including facing divorce and fear.
• 🌈 The speaker learned from Otto Frank that what matters most in life are the positive choices we make and our ability to savor the present moment, focusing on love, nature, and the beauty around us.

Q & A

Who was Otto Frank, and what was his relationship to Anne Frank?

Otto Frank was the father of Anne Frank, the author of the famous diary that documented her life in hiding during the Holocaust. Otto was the only member of the Frank family to survive the concentration camps, and he later became a mentor and friend to many, including the narrator of the transcript.

What inspired the narrator to write to Otto Frank, and how did their correspondence begin?

The narrator was inspired to write to Otto Frank after auditioning for the part of Anne Frank in a movie about her life. Although the narrator did not get the role, she was deeply moved by Anne's story, particularly her relationship with her father. This led her to seek out Otto's address and begin a long correspondence with him.

What advice did Otto Frank give the narrator during difficult times in the 1960s?

Otto Frank encouraged the narrator to maintain hope, even in the face of adversity. When the narrator expressed despair over the state of the world during the Vietnam War and civil unrest, Otto reminded her of the importance of continuing to live and plant seeds of hope, despite challenges.

How did Otto Frank respond to the betrayal that led to his family’s capture by the Nazis?

Otto Frank responded to the betrayal by saying, 'It doesn't matter,' even though someone he knew had likely caused the death of his family and others. This profound response reflected his decision to focus on healing and hope, rather than holding onto anger and seeking revenge.

What role did Meep Gies play in preserving Anne Frank’s legacy?

Meep Gies, one of Otto Frank’s non-Jewish employees, played a crucial role in preserving Anne Frank's legacy. After the Frank family was captured, Meep found Anne's diary scattered on the floor and saved it, hoping to return it to Anne. When it became clear that Anne would not survive, she gave the diary to Otto Frank, ensuring its publication.

How did Otto Frank’s guidance and mentoring influence the narrator’s life?

Otto Frank’s guidance had a profound impact on the narrator, helping her navigate through difficult times, including her divorce. His emphasis on hope, love, and making positive choices inspired the narrator to overcome her challenges and focus on what truly mattered in life.

What was Otto Frank’s reaction when he first saw Anne’s diary?

Otto Frank was deeply moved when he first read Anne’s diary. He was shocked by the depth and sensitivity of her writing. Her words, particularly her wish to go on living after her death, inspired him to publish the diary and share her story with the world.

What lesson did the narrator learn from Otto Frank’s ability to move forward after his family’s death?

The narrator learned from Otto Frank that holding onto anger and revenge is counterproductive. Instead, Otto chose to transform his pain into a loving and healing force, focusing on hope and helping others. This taught the narrator the importance of letting go of bitterness and focusing on making positive choices in life.

What did Otto Frank tell a young man at Auschwitz, and what does this reveal about his character?

At Auschwitz, Otto Frank told a young man to call him 'Papa,' emphasizing his identity as a father. This reveals that Otto’s love for his daughters was central to his sense of self, even in the most dire circumstances, and that fatherhood was a core part of his identity and strength.

What message from Anne Frank’s diary does the narrator find especially meaningful, and why?

The narrator finds Anne’s reflection on the beauty of the world, despite her dire circumstances, especially meaningful. Anne wrote about her appreciation for nature, the sky, and the sunshine, even while in hiding. This message resonates with the narrator because it reflects the power of finding hope and beauty in the present moment, no matter how difficult life may be.