I have always been in awe of Helen Keller since I learned that she was deaf and blind. I din’t give it much thought, though, until I started taking sign language lessons a few years ago. About once a year or so the subject of tactile sign language comes up and/or they teach Helen Keller’s sign name.
I have become more aware of the life of Helen Keller from learning sign languge. However, what I know mostly comes from watching the movie Miracle Worker, and doing some light research on my own.
It’s simply incredible. She became deaf and blind at an early age due to a childhood illness that her doctor described as a severe fever. As a child her her parents didn’t know how to communticate with her, and she would often become very frustrated since she did not know how to communicate with them. Her behavior was far from ideal until Anne Sullivan became her teacher and taught her to spell words.
The following are quotes that I found in The Pocket Book of Positives: A Reassuring Companion for Life’s Journey.
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
That one is thought-provoking. As kid I liked doing my best. Somewhere along the line I learned words that didn’t always have a positive meaning such as teacher’s pet, nerd, and perfectionist. However, in that quote and in the ones that follow, it becomes clear that doing our best can lead to great things.
The next few quotes have to deal with taking risks:
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.
Helen Keller
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
Helen Keller
It’s implied that taking a risk is better than doing the same old thing even though it might be considered the safer choice.
The following one reminds me of Mother Teresa who encouraged others to do things with love:
I long to accomplish a great and noble task; but my chief duty is to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.
Helen Keller
Actually, Helen Keller did do great and noble things such as being a political and social activist. But I think I know what she means. You have to put your best foot forward. You have to work as though it counts for something, because pessimists and/or people with depression usually expect the worst to happen. We can easily fall into the thought pattern of “why try?”
Interestingly, Helen Keller had something to say about pessimists as well:
No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to unchartered land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.
Helen Keller
These things truely come from a very wise person. She clearly understands what happens when you feel sorry for yourself as well as what happens when you do your best with what you’ve got.
Not bad for someone who didn’t have language from roughly the age of two to six years old!
We have all had some sort of setbacks at some point. My point is that when you fall you can either remain where you are, or pick yourself up and keep going.
With severe depression it may seem that bad luck and failure are the rule of thumb. However, you have to constantly remind yourself that this isn’t the case. If you look around you’ll hopefully find inspiratoin from your friends and family. If not, you can look to those who have made a lasting impression such as Helen Keller.
I hope you find the inspiration and motivation you need this week. I invite you to challenge your old way of thinking, and try something new.
Best of luck,
Vanessa
Introverts With Depression 