It is my pleasure to have this time with you Ms. Keller. Your triumphs against all odds have been an inspiration for a countless number of people.
THP: It is hard for me to fathom the depths of your resolve. Quitting would have been so much easier.
HK: No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit. All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming. One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.
THP: What is it that prevents a person from soaring Ms. Keller?
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.”
HK: Many people know so little about what is beyond their short range of experience. They look within themselves – and find nothing! Therefore they conclude that there is nothing outside themselves either. Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
THP: What was that turning point for you, the daring adventure, as you put it?
“…my life was without past or future…but…”
HK: Once I knew only darkness and stillness…my life was without past or future…but a little word from the fingers of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living.
THP: I imagine that moment was intense. Not only the ability to communicate, but the other doors it opened simultaneously, such as reading.
HK: Literature is my Utopia. Here I am not disenfranchised. No barrier of the senses shuts me out from the sweet, gracious discourses of my book friends. They talk to me without embarrassment or awkwardness.
THP: I find it interesting that you mention ’embarrassment and awkwardness’. We all feel this way at one time or another. It can be a bit stifling.
“Look the world straight in the eye.”
HK: Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood. Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.
THP: Ms. Keller, how do we hold our head high when feeling like we are on the bottom rung? When feeling inadequate?
“I seldom think about my limitations…”
HK: I seldom think about my limitations, and they never make me sad. Instead of comparing our lot with that of those who are more fortunate than we are, we should compare it with the lot of the great majority of our fellow men. It then appears that we are among the privileged.
THP: Simply amazing. Ms. Keller, we all want to count. We want to make a difference with our life. Your life has.
“…I can do something…”
HK: 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.
THP: Any final advice for Living it LOUD?
“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.”
~ one of my heroes…Helen Keller
Now…Live it LOUD!
Hi Rob! You really did a great interview with Helen Keller. She is really a very inspiring woman when it is all about being herself. I like the lines that she said about “I can do something.” Very tough answers.
A very inspiring person. A model of how motivated and strong woman are.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for posting the details of the interview. I came across few quotes of Helen Keller that I had never heard and got inspired very much. I really feel thankful to God that I faced problems in life because that helped me build my character 🙂
No doubt Leo.
Problems and how we handle them can be a huge dose of on the job training. Character is created through adversity. The lives of many historical figures (like Helen Keller) bear this out.
Glad it inspired you Leo.
Live it LOUD!
Rob, You’ve done it again! Another outstanding interview with someone who has inspired generations with her writings and positive attitude. A life lived in the light that can only be found in profound darkness. The last quote is so true. Why hold back in life? Be bold and make something of it rather than retreat into the shadows.
Thanks Penelope,
Re:
“Why hold back in life? Be bold and make something of it rather than retreat into the shadows.”
Indeed. Why?
Continue to be bold Penelope.
And,
Live it LOUD!
Elegant and beautiful. Inspirational and motivating. Rob, this was an amazing read!
I can’t even fathom how she could have done what she did! We sometimes start to think we have such limitations when in reality we don’t know what real limitations are in light of Helen Keller’s. And after her’s we have little excuse to if we don’t go out and make a great big splash in life!
Great work, Rob!
Hey Ken,
Thanks for the kind words. I’m a fan of yours!
Limiting beliefs are better termed as self-limiting beliefs. When we see successful people, we want to make some excuse as to why they did, and why we can’t. When we get rid of this noise, we can follow suit. Today will be that day for many.
Hopefully, for some reading this. Thanks again Ken (nice rhyme) 🙂
Live it LOUD!
She had so many “so called disabilities” but she managed to break through them all and live a joyous life. These days people complain for no reason but Helen never complained just did her best and became the best she could be. Love the woman! Great blog…cheers from Australia.
Hey Thalia,
Great points! She took what life gave her and made the most out of it. Imagine the power if we all did that. She was (and is) an amazing inspiration to us.
Thanks for the shout out from Australia.
Live it LOUD!
Helen Keller is the most inspiring woman on earth. Difficulties did not let her down. She was strong and bold. I look up to her whenever I feel that my life is bad. Many thanks to Rob for posting the interview details here. God Bless You Rob!
Right on Rodrigo!
If she could do it…
It’s amazing what commitment and purpose can achieve when properly applied. The doors Helen opened are many.
Thanks my Brother.
Live it LOUD!
Rob,
I liked the unique way in which you brought forth the wisdom from Helen Keller. The interview was beautiful and inspiring!
Cheers,
Mark
Helen Keller is a very inspiring women. She proved that the impossible is possible. It is truly amazing how hard she wanted all that she got. ( Talking about being able to communicate with other people) She had it hard & Showed us That NOTHING is impossobe.
Thank you so much for sharing this, it is so warm and encouraged every time I read your blog. Life itself is one super lesson for every body, so no fear and no worry, just move on.
Hi Rob,
“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar”
Only an exceptional person would say something like this 🙂
She obviously has steel n her back bone.
First time here!The Hiding Place is such a great book, but it’s been years since I’ve read it. Your little pic ineirpsd me to pull it out again.Thanks for the post and for helping keep us focused this season.