By presidential proclamation in 2006, June 27th became a commemorative holiday to celebrate the birth of one of the most influential women of the 20th century, Helen Keller.
Helen was born in 1880, and when she was nineteen months old became seriously ill. Although she survived, the illness left her both deaf and blind and unable to communicate. It wasn’t until she was six years old, with the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, that she discovered the world of language.
Her first word was water. If you’ve ever seen the movie, “The Miracle Worker,” you may remember the scene where she finally makes the connection between the word Sullivan is spelling into one of her hands and the feel of the water on the other. Making that connection opened the door to learning the whole world of language.
It amazes me that Helen’s first word was water and that in spite of never seeing the sun shining on the sea or hearing the waves crashing on the shore, she loved the smell of the ocean and enjoyed swimming, rowing and sailing.
Imagine never seeing the colors of a glorious sunset. Imagine never hearing a lyrical melody or even the song of a lark. Yet this amazing woman went on to savor life and inspire others throughout her life.
Whatever our own limitations may be, should we really let them limit us?
A friend and fellow writer, Larry Schardt, shared one of Helen Keller’s quotes with which I wasn’t familiar, but I think it’s an excellent one. She said, “No one has the right to consume happiness without producing it.”
How can you use the gift of language to produce happiness in your world today and every day?
Just think about it.
The Writings of G. K. Bostic 