Helen Keller was indeed one of the most powerful persons of the 20th century. She is still a lighthouse demonstrating the qualities of human spirit such as the power of courage, the capability of resilience, and the might of determination. After all, she was born in 1880 in Alabama; however, she became blind and deaf at the age of 19 months. The moment Anne Sullivan came in her life, teaching her to express her thoughts and feelings, and humanizing her through education, she became liberated. A person Keller then went on to become the first deaf-blind individual to receive a college degree and to use her voice as a means of support for disability rights, women’s empowerment, and the fight for social equality-now, she was done in America.
The quote of the day that has been attributed to her—”When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but, very often, we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us”—expresses the real and very deep essence of her life’s message. It calls upon us not only to change our perception but also to change our orientation so that we would no longer be looking at each coming end but rather at the new beginning that each of them brings. Really, her words have the timeless meaning that the human quality of endurance is not a matter of refusing to let go of the past but rather of accepting the new options that eventually surface, often quite unnoticed, in the future.
This quote expresses a very common experience: being unhappy can completely consume a person and keep him/her focused on his/her loss, thus preventing him/her from seeing the road that leads to personal growth and new-found happiness. Still, Keller has an interesting way of taking it; she tells us that the process of change, even if it is a hard one to go through, can eventually lead us, albeit unconsciously, into situations which will teach us to become stronger and wiser persons. It is a hard but nonetheless very rewarding experience; thus, her message encourages one to have courageous, be aware, and be open to trusting life’s transitions.
Helen Keller’s remarkable life and contributions are still a source of inspiration for millions across the world. The very words of her are a map that leads us to the land of hope, gratitude, and faith – a place where we always remember that every closed door opens a possibility for another one to open, which, in turn, will lead to happier and fuller joy.
