A Sense of Purpose

Helen Keller, blind and deaf from childhood, had no way to communicate with the outside world. In fact, she didn’t realize the world communicated at all.

Her teacher, Ann Sullivan, was determined to show Helen the world around her, and introduce her to it.

After more than a year, Ann made Helen realize that the world was filled with people and wonderful things. From that moment she had a sense of purpose.

It is hard to say which had the greatest determination - Ann Sullivan before this point, or Helen Keller after.

Helen learned to read and write and speak. She graduated from Radcliffe College, and even became a famous writer and lecturer.

The search for purpose should last a lifetime, especially if the final goal is happiness. Helen Keller, remembering her struggles, said, “Happiness is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” Anne Sullivan would no doubt have agreed.