This past weekend I had the fantastic opportunity to travel to Amsterdam, Netherlands for a weekend trip. Throughout my weekend in Amsterdam, I was overcome with how amazing the city is. There are so many cultural and historical sites to visit, wonderful places to do some shopping, interesting people to meet and learn about, and eccentric lifestyles that really make someone think.

While we were visiting, we were able to get tickets to visit the Anne Frank House. Our time slot was on Friday, but I have only just fully processed my thoughts from my visit to this exceedingly important historic landmark. There were so many thoughts and ideas swirling around through my mind that I truly needed a full two days to think about the lessons that my visit to the museum taught me and how this museum trip would affect my day to day life.

When you think about visiting a museum, you usually assume that you will see a few cool or fascinating objects, maybe hear a fun fact or two; what you don't think about is how one two hour gap of time can ultimately influence your view on your entire life. This happened to me at the Anne Frank house.

Going into the museum, I was already emotional. I have read Anne Frank's diary a handful of times, but that did not truly prepare me to see her hiding place in real life. Walking through the building that once used to be an office building turned hideout left me speechless. I shed many a tear while we were walking through, and it was hard for me to fully understand everything that I was witnessing. I thought back to the emotions I had when reading the book and how such a young girl going through such turmoil could focus on the future and seek to find a happier life. Anne had such strength and determination, such faith and perseverance. She truly believed that the world would right itself and she could be free once more.

The museum concluded with an eight minute long film that combined quotes from world leaders, celebrities, visitors of the museum, and some of Anne's friends/acquaintances on the impact that her diary holds. Sitting through this short compilation of thoughts and beliefs about Anne and her impactful words struck a true cord in me.

We like to believe that something like the Holocaust will never happen again and that we know things now that people didn't know then, but I'm not sure I'm entirely confident in this. There has been a surge of hatred within the past few years between many groups and generations of people in the United States and all over the world. There is animosity where it has no place and negative views of people based on prejudices that don't actually exist. We are living in a time that forces us to be stuck in reverse; when something good happens, there seems to be something holding us back and creating more negative tension.

My question is: what are you doing to help or hinder this? Are you being careful of the way you communicate with others? Do you think before you act or speak? Does it bother you when someone is offended by an opinion or idea you may have?

Rather than allowing outside forces (i.e., the media, social networks, constructs we are used to seeing) to mold how we feel about a person or group, take the time to create your own identity. Seek out a higher truth and refuse to put people into compartments based on what you THINK you see.

Anne Frank did not die for nothing; she died and now her words live on to teach us about respect, love, and dignity in the human race. If we continue to belittle those around us and spread hate rather than love, Anne's words will slowly drift away. She sought out a world where individuals could get along, and we could bridge gaps between those that are different. However, the only way that we can continue to strive for the world that Anne hoped for is through changing our own identities first. Take a look at the way you treat those around you -- is it positive or negative? Begin to think twice about the way you speak and how you interact with one another. Spread positive messages and attempt to grow in an understanding of who YOU are as a person, and who those around you are. Follow Anne's lead and think twice before passing judgment. Think of Anne Frank and the golden rule: treat others how you wanted to be treated.