Jaku shares his life story and the unimaginable horrors he and his family and friends faced during the Holocaust. Throughout the book, he chimes in on the life lessons he learned along the way and what it really means to love others. Jaku focuses on seeing the world and life as a glass half full instead of half empty. This book is a must-read when it comes to remembering what is important in life and the beauty that can come from it, even in darkness.
Favorite Quotes:
“Please, every day, remember to be happy, and to make others happy too. Make yourself a friend to the world.”
“…the greatest thing you will ever do is be loved by another person…..I cannot emphasise this enough, especially to young people. Without friendship, a human being is lost. A friend is someone who reminds you to feel alive.”
“I have belief that if you have a good morale, if you can hang onto hope, your body can do miraculous things. Tomorrow will come. When you’re dead, you’re dead, but where there is life, there is hope. Why not give hope a chance? It costs you nothing!”
“There are always miracles in the world, even when it seems dark.”
“Love is like all good things in life – it takes time, it takes work, it takes compassion.”
“You don’t want to fall in love with a reflection of yourself! A strong partnership is with a man or a woman who is different from you, who challenges you to try new things, to become a better person.”
“Here is what I learned. Happiness does not fall from the sky; it is in your hands. Happiness comes from inside yourself and from the people you love. And you are healthy and happy, you are a millionaire….And happiness is the only thing in the world that doubles each time you share it. My wife doubles my happiness. My friendship with Kurt doubled my happiness. As for you my new friend? I hope that your happiness doubles too.”
“We are all part of a larger society, and our work is our contribution to a free and safe life for all.”
“May you always have lots of love to share, lots of good health to spare, and a lot of good friends who care.”
“A field is empty, but If you put in the effort to grow something then you will have a garden. And that’s life. Give something, something will come back. Give nothing, nothing will come back. To grow a flower is a miracle: it means that you can grow more. Remember that a flower is not just a flower, it is the start of a whole garden.”
