An anthem of hope for anyone in their darkest hour






Three years ago I posted “The Power To Choose“ on Facebook and overnight it had gone viral, being seen by over two million people in what I refer to as a “Spiritual Tsunami”. The post was translated into 5 languages and touched the hearts of millions around the world. Messages came in from Alaska, Australia, and even one from Antarctica! I soon realized the message was universal and could give hope to people in their darkest of times. Not too long after the post went viral I was introduced to the musical group The Kin, they heard my story and thought it would be a good idea to write a song that would help spread my message even further. “The Power To Choose Life” came into fruition  and now I’d like to share it with people everywhere who find it difficult to believe they will ever be able to make that choice.

"The Power to Choose" 　
On December 24th  2004, a Tsunami hit the island of Koh Phi Phi in Thailand and my daughter Zohar, 24 years old, at the time, was killed by the rushing water. On the eve of my return back to Israel with Zohar’s body I remember sitting on the sidewalk on a dark street in Bangkok. I was trying to digest what I’d gone through in the recent days, searching through hospitals and centers where bodies of victims were collected. Coming to terms with the harsh reality that Zohar was no longer with us.  
I allowed myself for the first time since receiving the news of her disappearance to release some emotion and disconnect the “internal autopilot” that allowed me to focus on searching for her. That feeling of determination had been replaced by a dark hole and severe pain. It felt like a knife piercing my heart. The initial desire to sink, spiral down and just surrender to the pain was overbearing. The force of this anguish was just too powerful. I felt as if there's no chance in beating it and so perhaps it was best to let go and give in. 
In a sudden moment of pure clarity I understood that a choice must be made right there and then. While gazing up at the sky I had imagery appear of my beautiful family, my wife, my three sons and my glowing Zohar with a big smile shining down on me. It became apparent that I have choice, we have a choice and within this choice lies an incredible force to create our own future. It was clear to me that my family and I choose life. We choose happiness and joy. We cannot change the facts, but the decision over how to react to the facts is in our hands. The longing for Zohar will forever accompany us, but it will not lead us. We’ll remember Zohar with love, happiness, laughter and music.
This is the Power To Choose! Ten years have gone by and I can talk about our successful choice with deep gratitude. Our home is filled with  true happiness, music and endless love. In every situation, no matter how hard, we each have the right and ability — perhaps even the responsibility to choose. We can write our own life story, we cannot change the past, but we do have the choice of how we live moving forward.

ofer aloni

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