"Why Am I Here?"

"Each of You Who Know The Joy of Freedom are Winners."



The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has an active and ongoing schedule of events and on Monday wrapped their 2009 Oscar documentary winners screenings.

As I went through their memorable Oscar moments collection, this clip from Gerda Weissmann Klein's Oscar acceptance speech for the documentary "One Survivor Remembers" chronicling her six years living with the horror of Nazi encampment jumped out at me.

"In my minds eye I see those years and faces of those who never lived to see the magic of a boring evening at home. On their behalf I want to thank you for honoring their memory. And you can not do it in any better way than when you return to your homes tonight to realize that each of you who know the joy of freedom are winners. Thank you on their behalf with all my heart."

The beauty in these stories and Gerda's sharing is that they remind us, in the face of surviving unimaginable hardness and evil, there is hope and there is love.

Freedom is the foundation of strength and joy and as Gerda so beautifully puts it, contains the magic of choice. The choice to spend a boring evening at home. Something that should never be taken for granted.

With Thanksgiving upon us we get to give thanks for the joys of freedom and abundance we do have and to stay in love as often as possible. If you are tempted by the blues this holiday, or drawn into believing in the fear, remember we have all been given a choice, a choice to see the love in whatever situation you find yourself in. And when the question comes up "Why Am I Here?" one answer is to shine your light as brightly and lovingly as possible.

Go to Oscars.org for more information on their events, programs and screening schedules.

The 82nd Academy Awards will take place Sunday, March 7, 2010 at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre.