51 - Alabama, Helen Keller
Helen Keller spoke more than most Americans through the pain and hardships that she lived every day. She was an inspiration to everyone. To me.
Alabama was the 42nd State to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment on September 8, 1958.
Ms. Keller lost her hearing and sight before she turned two years old in what is now thought to be meningitis or scarlet fever. Being too young to understand the concept of words and speaking, she struggled to communicate with people. She spoke brokenly with the young daughter of the cook until Anne Sullivan was directed to them as a teacher and partner to Ms. Keller.
Anne Sullivan taught Helen that every object or item had an associated word which she “wrote” into Helen’s hand. The epiphany of what words meant was mind blowing to Helen as she finally felt the power of communication and community around her.
A modern columnist summed a tour of Helen and Anne Sullivan saying, “According to those who attended, Helen Keller spoke of the joy that life gave her. She was thankful for the faculties and abilities that she did possess and stated that the most productive pleasures she had were curiosity and imagination. Keller also spoke of the joy of service and the happiness that came from doing things for others ... Keller imparted that “helping your fellow men were one’s only excuse for being in this world and in the doing of things to help one’s fellows lay the secret of lasting happiness.” She also told of the joys of loving work and accomplishment and the happiness of achievement. Although the entire lecture lasted only a little over an hour, the lecture had a profound impact on the audience.”
Why this woman?
I grew up with Helen Keller as an inspirational leader in overcoming obstacles that no one could imagine being placed on them. In the late 1800’s when technology and science was pushing to learn how to solve puzzles like Helen’s, she was left in a world of solitude and unease. To comprehend the extent that she succeeded takes a step by step breakdown.
She knew no words. She didn’t know that words existed.
She hadn’t heard communication.
She was caught in her own world of darkness and quiet.
I can’t fathom how a person in such darkness and no straightforward way to communicate became an author and lecturer throughout the country. She spoke poetically. She was able to not only communicate her needs but to inspire thought and meaning. She placed perspective on a world that was filled with unknowns for all, not just the hardships she encountered.
I am humbled by her awakening of life to others. She loved the seconds she lived. She cherished the people that linked her to the world around her. She inspired living every day for its best. She didn’t stop at just getting by ... she mastered the voice of language and did more than many around her. I feel her passion for life, and I hope I live mine with such fullness.
Alabama was the 42nd State to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment on September 8, 1958.
Ms. Keller lost her hearing and sight before she turned two years old in what is now thought to be meningitis or scarlet fever. Being too young to understand the concept of words and speaking, she struggled to communicate with people. She spoke brokenly with the young daughter of the cook until Anne Sullivan was directed to them as a teacher and partner to Ms. Keller.
Anne Sullivan taught Helen that every object or item had an associated word which she “wrote” into Helen’s hand. The epiphany of what words meant was mind blowing to Helen as she finally felt the power of communication and community around her.
A modern columnist summed a tour of Helen and Anne Sullivan saying, “According to those who attended, Helen Keller spoke of the joy that life gave her. She was thankful for the faculties and abilities that she did possess and stated that the most productive pleasures she had were curiosity and imagination. Keller also spoke of the joy of service and the happiness that came from doing things for others ... Keller imparted that “helping your fellow men were one’s only excuse for being in this world and in the doing of things to help one’s fellows lay the secret of lasting happiness.” She also told of the joys of loving work and accomplishment and the happiness of achievement. Although the entire lecture lasted only a little over an hour, the lecture had a profound impact on the audience.”
Why this woman?
I grew up with Helen Keller as an inspirational leader in overcoming obstacles that no one could imagine being placed on them. In the late 1800’s when technology and science was pushing to learn how to solve puzzles like Helen’s, she was left in a world of solitude and unease. To comprehend the extent that she succeeded takes a step by step breakdown.
She knew no words. She didn’t know that words existed.
She hadn’t heard communication.
She was caught in her own world of darkness and quiet.
I can’t fathom how a person in such darkness and no straightforward way to communicate became an author and lecturer throughout the country. She spoke poetically. She was able to not only communicate her needs but to inspire thought and meaning. She placed perspective on a world that was filled with unknowns for all, not just the hardships she encountered.
I am humbled by her awakening of life to others. She loved the seconds she lived. She cherished the people that linked her to the world around her. She inspired living every day for its best. She didn’t stop at just getting by ... she mastered the voice of language and did more than many around her. I feel her passion for life, and I hope I live mine with such fullness.
Comments
Post a Comment