8 lessons we learnt from Helen Keller’s Autobiography – ‘Story of my life’
Today is Helen Keller’s 134
th birthday. Sense India fondly remembers our role model. She became a legend
not because she had a special kind of disability. Rather because she overcame
all those limitations beyond other people’s expectations from a person with
deafblindness.
Following are some learning we had from her autobiography,
Story of my life:
1.
Cherish experiences
and create your own story of life
Helen never gave up learning and exploring
new things all her life. The quest for knowledge came from within her. This was
also the success mantra behind her becoming the first deafblind woman to graduate
from Harvard. She was well read and an avid writer. She also featured in a
silent movie based on her life. Her hobbies included riding horses and rowing
boats. She was a fan of music too.
“Character
cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and
suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and
success achieved.”
Helen
Keller (1880-1968); Author, Lecturer, Activist
2.
Dedicate time to connect with
Nature.
Despite
not being able to see the sky or hear the leaves rustle, Helen was deeply
connected with Nature. From childhood itself she was sensitive towards her
environment and was also an animal lover.
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot
be seen or even touched; they must be felt with the heart.”
Helen Keller (1880-1968); Author, Lecturer, Activist
3.
Our attitude determines our altitude in life.
Nobody’s life is free of challenges. But
how we respond to them is what sets the way for our future. Helen was a
positive person. She learnt lessons even from her own failures and
disappointments.
“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the
shadow.”
Helen Keller (1880-1968); Author, Lecturer, Activist
4.
Value those who contribute to your life.
Helen, throughout the book, has expressed
how much she loved her teacher, Anne Sullivan. Anne was the sole reason behind
Helen being a legend even today. It was her faith and hardwork that propelled
Helen out of her confines of disability.
“What a blind
person needs is not a teacher but another self.”
Helen Keller (1880-1968); Author, Lecturer, Activist
5.
Communicate to build lifelong relationships.
Despite limitations in her means of
communications, Helen had strong relationships with people like Alexander
Graham Bell, Mark Twain, Dr Edward Everett Hale and many more known people.
She ends the autobiography by saying, “Thus it is that
my friends have made the story of my life. In a thousand ways they have turned
my limitations into beautiful privileges, and enabled me to walk serene and
happy in the shadow of my deprivation”. (Sic)
Helen Keller (1880-1968); Author, Lecturer, Activist
6. Support a ‘Cause’
that touches you. Take time out to volunteer and donate for social causes.
Learn to empathize with others as everyone
has their own share of struggles cut out.
Helen from a very young age was supporting blind
girls at Perkins Institution by raising money for them. She also raised money
for an orphan boy Tim who went deafblind. She visited military fellows who lost
their eye sights in the war to encourage them.
“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do
everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I
will not refuse to do something that I can do.”
Helen Keller (1880-1968); Author, Lecturer, Activist
7.
Practice. Practice. Practice. Do more of what you are
good at. The more you do the better you will become.
Helen became a renowned writer, starting
off by writing letters and each letter was better than the last. She is the
author of books like - Teacher: Anne
Sullivan Macy, Peace at eventide, Light in My Darkness etc.
“Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not
let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight... When we
do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in
the life of another.”
Helen Keller (1880-1968); Author, Lecturer, Activist
8. Set high
standards for yourself and others. Strive to achieve them. Even if you don’t
attain them, you would have given your best shot.
Helen struggled a lot to learn verbal
communication. Even though she couldn’t do it very well still she reached to a
level where people could understand what she was trying to say.
“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is
my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.”
Helen Keller (1880-1968); Author, Lecturer, Activist
If you have also read her autobiography or want to know more , do share your feelings with us. Comment Below.
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