Today, I am honoring all people who have overcome serious obstacles in this world. We should all stop and listen to their stories, so that we may appreciate this life and learn from them. They are the real gurus and teachers in this world. -Laurita 

The Simplest Way to be Happy by Helen Keller, as published in Home Magazine, (February, 1933)

Transcription

“The Simplest Way to be Happy”

“My theme is that happiness is not the work of magic. Happiness is the final and perfect fruit of obedience to the laws of life. One who lies in accordance with these laws has a talisman of happiness always at hand.

“I know no study that will take you nearer the way to happiness than the study of nature – and I include in the study of nature not only things and their forces, but also mankind and their ways, and the moulding (sic) of the affections and the will into an earnest desire not only to be happy, but to create happiness.

“A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships. Happiness is not for wild animals who can only oscillate between hunger and repletion. To be happy we must exercise our reasoning faculty and be conscious of our will and powers. In other words, we must have learned the secret of self-discipline. To be happy we must do those things which produce happiness.

“Happiness is one of the slowest ripening fruits in the Garden of Life, and, like all fruits, it must be grown. There is a very clever trick in India. A mango-seed is put in the ground, and after divers incantations a full blown mango-bush appears within five minutes! I have never met any one who knew how the thing was done, but I have never met any one who believed it to be anything else than a conjuring trick. We may never have planed a tree, but we know that it cannot grow in five minutes.

“Some of us have not one plant in our lives on which to grow the fruit of happiness. We have not planted one sound seed in our hearts, and when we do plant a seed, it gets so little sunshine that it can never come to maturity.

“The vine was the Eastern symbol of joy. It was its fruit that made glad the heart of man. The juice of the grape was the common drink at every peasant’s meal. The gladness was the innocent gladness of satisfying the need of the body. This is not the truest happiness, and the vine of the Palestine vineyards was but a symbol of fruit-bearing and the act of sharing which implies inspiration to live and work for others with all that that brings of selflessness and joy in others’ good.

“It all comes to this: the simplest way to be happy is to do good. This is instant and infallible happiness. The surest proof that this is the law of cause and effect is, we may try every other conceivable way of being happy, and they will all fail. We cannot gather figs from thorns or grapes from thistles. The tree bears fruit after its kind both in the soil and in the soul. If we spend the time we waste in sighing for the perfect golden fruit in fulfilling the conditions of its growth, happiness will come, must come. It is guaranteed in the very laws of the universe. If it involves some chastening and renunciation, well, the fruit will be all the sweeter for this touch of holiness”. – Hellen Keller

Helen Keller graduated from Radcliffe College in 1904.

The Miracle Worker

deletereply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jan 21, ’08, edited on Jan 21, ’08 I find it inconceivable having worked with the deaf for so many years, that this deaf- blind woman is so erudite and has such brilliant command of language.  Some say that she was deafened–not born deaf and had some hearing at an early age–possibly so with her sight as well.  For a profoundly deaf person to speak so well and to express in the abstract so flawlessly is just amazing. So she is even more amazing to have been able to conjure these thoughts and to express them.  She is so inspirational. Imagine how she might have been even more brilliant had she had all her senses, yet, perhaps not having them gave an already brilliant woman the impetus to connect to the universe even more. Great post.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jan 21, ’08 I agree with you, and you know what ? This blog only reflects ONE of the many essays she had written over the years of her amazing life !

deletereply starfishred wrote on Jan 21, ’08, edited on Jan 21, ’08 She was brilliant and had a will so strong it is hard for us to imagine but it shows you can if you preserver

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jan 21, ’08 Yes, Heidi, thank you for your kind comment. I agree. It goes to show you how powerful the human spirit can be !

deletereply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Jan 21, ’08, edited on Jan 21, ’08 Helen Keller had such a spirit of survival in a word that we can never,ever imagine…and yet,she choose to perceive her soundless,colorless world with beauty and goodness…remarkable example of the spirit that lives within. Such wisdom I gladly and humbly learn from!

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jan 21, ’08 It’s amazing, as San Souci has said, how much intelligence she had inside her. She only needed the language skills to help her express it.

deletereply watersocky wrote on Jan 24, ’08 wow i did watch the theater play  last night it the best  just like same n Tv show I love it. Thanks for shared this . you are right time I agree with you all yup Helen very brilliant. when the end the show I was  tear touch my heart. Thanks  some of you I am Deaf but i can do any thing anyway   I have see other Deaf theater too   I hope we can keep our touch and thanks again I love you  MIRACLE WORKER is so AWESOME  and I have been learn about Helen Keller Wow I know she was soo Awesome and Smart  too.  HUG my friend

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jan 24, ’08 It would have been wonderful to meet her. Thank you for your kind comments.

deletereply watersocky wrote on Jan 24, ’08 yup  aww anytime  i want be good friend but  thanks  for everything  hug  sure I think  all the deaf and blind are awesome just like me Smile  HUG I want let u know glad i met you

deletereply papahere wrote on May 22, ’08 Love this quote: “A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.”

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on May 22, ’08 Yes, papa, I like that saying, too.

deletereply sanssouciblogs wrote on May 22, ’08 Here I am again-Helen Keller never ceases to amaze me. What a mind!

deletereply scribe5 wrote on May 22, ’08 I have not read much of her writing but nice to see it here.  thanks for the link.

deletereply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on May 22, ’08 What a wonderful reminder that happiness lives within and is not something that we obtain through the material world. What strikes me about this wisdom is the ever present theme of ying/yang (opposites) in this life ~ie.we  have to know what pain is like to be able to experience joy. Thank you for providing such a wonderful inspiration for our reading pleasure.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on May 23, ’08 She sounded like such a wonderful woman.