669 Reasons You Ought to Know Nicholas Winton

© 2002 Boaz Rauchwerger

This time of year in San Diego finds many people attending the very popular Jewish Film Festival. Attending last week, I had the pleasure, and the incredibly moving experience, of watching two movies about the same topic.

The first one was titled "All My Loved Ones." The film was inspired by the real-life experiences of English stockbroker, Nicholas Winton, who rescued 669 Czech children from the Holocaust in 1939. This was a warm and poignant movie that focused on a happy Jewish family in pre-war Bohemia. The father is an eternal optimist who believes that honesty, decency, and tolerance will prevail in the face of the Nazi threat.

As grim reality sets in, he sends his son, who is destined to be the family's sole survivor, on one of Winton's kindertransports to freedom in England.

The second film, entitled "Nicholas Winton: The Power of Good," was actually a documentary about this incredible man and his amazing gift to mankind. This warm and inspiring film explores the life of Mr. Winton, the man who inspired the award-winning film "All My Loved Ones." This documentary used archival footage and touching interviews with "Winton" survivors.

Long-time subscribers to this newsletter may recall that both of my parents escaped from Europe in the mid-30's to Palestine. My mother lost her parents and brother in the Holocaust. From that standpoint, both of these films were very personal and deeply moving.

However, the major impact of these films was to show us that one person can truly make a difference in the lives of others and potentially change the course of history.

After the War, Nicholas Winton did not publicize his efforts in saving 669 children. The only reason the world is now learning about this incredible human being is that his wife found an old scrapbook in the attic of their home. In it were the names of all the children he saved along with pictures of many of them.

Now in his 90's and in great spirits, Mr. Winton lives in England and has been honored by Kings and Queens. He was not wealthy in 1938. He did not have many connections. He was not a super human. He simply saw a need to do something and he did it with urgency. The descendants of the 669 children Nicholas Winton saved now number over 5,000.

How much more could each of us accomplish if we simply identified something that was important to us and went after it with passion? Perhaps one day there could be many reasons why people should know about your life. If you ever have the opportunity to see the above films, do so. They are profound!

If you need help with an affirmation to identify an important "WHY" in your life, please E-mail and we'll respond.

Don't "Try" to Read this Article - Just Do It!

How many times, when you pay attention, can you recall people saying, "I'll TRY to be there. I'll TRY to get that job. I'll TRY to exercise. I'll TRY to watch my diet?"

If you're guilty of doing that, and I certainly have been in the past, STOP. Any time you say the word "TRY," you've already decided that it's ok if you don't do it. There's no real commitment.

What if you went to your doctor with, what you thought, was a serious condition and the doctor said, "I'll TRY to figure out what's wrong." NO. You want him to examine you and FIND OUT what's wrong.

Next time you hear yourself saying the word "try," stop and think. Are you or are you not committed to doing that which you're considering? Either decide to forget it or commit to doing it. There is great power in saying, "I'll do it!"

From now on, don't TRY. Just do it! Positive energy is generated when we commit.

A Daily Affirmation for Doing More

I will look for opportunities to do more for my fellow humans.