‘We don’t know where we are going, we don’t know what’s going to happen, but no one can take away from you what you put in your mind.’
These are the words of Edith Eger’s mother to her; embedded in her mind, setting in motion the amazing story of suffering, survival and self-healing.
Edith Eger was just 16 when she was sent to Auschwitz. Her parents were sent to the gas chamber and she was ordered to dance in front of Dr Josef Mengle on the first night at the camp. This is the moment where her extraordinary self-determination and her inner strength comes through. Closing her fear out, she transports her mind to the outside world, reflecting only on her dance … freeing her mind of her present horror. Gifted with a loaf of bread later, she goes on to survive the holocaust. This instance sets the road map of her entire emotional and physical well-being and survival in the notorious Auschwitz camp.
Surviving multiple death camps, she is found in a pile of corpses by American troops after liberation in 1945.
The physical survival over, the book then narrates her journey of mental recuperation and victory over the horrors she faced.
‘Choice’ is a saga of extraordinary perseverance and steely self-realisation, the qualities which go on to make Edith Eger such a positive, self-healing individual.
After the War, she writes about her personal journey with her sisters Magda, Klara and her husband Bela evolving into a very renowned psychologist. In her process of self-healing, she brings forth to us ‘the power of choice’ in our lives. Her decision to go back to Auschwitz to confront and lay to rest the mental horrors and trauma of the place is the final ‘nirvana’ for her.
‘Suffering is universal. But victimhood is optional.’….she writes
The Choice is yours. Embrace the Possible.
This book should be embraced too….. can be used an an everyday mental reminder to yourself. Either you decide to go under or you emerge triumphant. The Choice is Yours.
Preeta Chag 