Olivia: How can a man who survived Auschwitz and saw humanity at its worst declare himself the happiest on Earth? Welcome to When It Happened. I'm Olivia, exploring the moments that define a life. Olivia: Today, we delve into Eddie Jaku's incredible memoir, "The Happiest Man on Earth." Born Abraham Jakubowicz in Germany, Eddie saw himself as German first, Jewish second. His book recounts surviving the Holocaust's horrors – Kristallnacht's betrayal, Buchenwald, Auschwitz – yet ultimately finding profound joy. His journey began with the shattering violence of Kristallnacht, but the defining moment, the one revealing the source of his extraordinary resilience, came later, in the bleakest of landscapes. Olivia: It's 1945, during a death march. Allied forces are closing in, and the Nazis force skeletal prisoners through the freezing winter. Death is everywhere. Hope seems lost. Yet here, amidst utter despair, Eddie makes a conscious choice. He focuses on each step, whispering encouragement, helping those who stumble. His mantra becomes: "Tomorrow will come if you survive today." He chooses humanity when everything conspires to strip it away. This isn't passive survival; it's an active decision to live with dignity. Olivia: This moment on the death march is the heart of Eddie’s message. It demonstrates his core belief, repeated throughout the book: happiness isn't found, it's chosen. This choice, made at the absolute nadir of human cruelty, gives power to his later declaration of being the happiest man. It wasn't despite the suffering, but through actively choosing his response within it, that he forged his path to joy, later sharing his story and advocating for kindness over hate. Olivia: So, what can we take from Eddie's choice in hell? First, remember that even in darkness, we retain the power to choose our response, our attitude. Second, as Eddie practiced, find moments for gratitude, however small. Happiness, he shows us, is an inside job. Olivia: This is Olivia for When It Happened. Until next time, remember the power of choice.