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TRUE HAPPINESS
FIDELITY TO A WORTHY PURPOSE:
THE INSPIRING STORY OF HELEN KELLER
When it comes to having a deep sense of purpose, Helen Keller is truly an inspiration.
So are her mother and teacher.
Helen's life began in 1880, but it changed dramatically just 19 months later, when
an unknown illness left her blind and deaf. Her devoted parents did the best they
could, but nothing seemed to help. Tantrums became Helen's main way of communicating,
and before long, relatives were saying that the little girl should be put in an institution.
Kate Keller, Helen's mother, would have none of it. Her research into better options
led to a specialist in Baltimore, who recommended a local expert by the name of Alexander
Graham Bell. Bell put Kate in touch with another expert, this one in Massachusetts,
who matched the family with a young teacher named Anne Sullivan.
Just 21 years old, Anne showed up at the Keller home in March 1887. She jumped into
her lessons with the 6-year-old, trying to teach by holding Helen's finger and tracing
out words like "doll" and "cake." Helen could mimic the movements,
but she wasn't understanding the true meaning of the words. The tantrums continued,
and frustration grew.
Then, on a sunny April day, the pair took a fateful walk to the water pump. While
Helen held one hand under the spigot, Anne worked the pump and used Helen's other
hand to spell out "water." The water started pouring, and Anne watched
as Helen's face brightened with understanding. In her later writings, Helen recalled
the excitement:
"I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon
the motions of her fingers. Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something
forgotten, a thrill of returning thought, and somehow the mystery of language was
revealed to me."
Helen tapped her shoe against the ground. Anne spelled
out "earth." Then they learned "teacher." By day's end, Helen
had added 30 words to her vocabulary.
Throughout her life, with help from people like Kate, Anne, and others, Helen immersed
herself in learning. At age 20, she entered Radcliffe College, the women's branch
of Harvard University. Her first book, "The Story of My Life, was translated
into 50 languages, and she went on to write 10 more books. She learned to read French,
German, Greek, and Latin in Braille. From 1946 to 1957, a speaking tour took her
to 35 countries, where she taught others about the experiences and rights of people
who are blind.
Helen Keller died 33 years ago, but she left behind a timeless treasure of inspiration.
Few people are so qualified to comment on the challenge of living a life full of
purpose and persistence.
"When we do the best that we can, we never know
what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."
"True happiness...is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity
to a worthy purpose."
"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish
humble tasks as though they were great and noble."
"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted
land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit."
"I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can
do something; I will not refuse to do the something I can do."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tom Terez is the founder of InnerBest.com, BetterWorkplaceNow.com,
and TomTerez.com. His talks and workshops are all about helping individuals
and organizations achieve their very best. Click here to send Tom a note.
Copyright 2002 Tom Terez.
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