The Influence of Three Women
Helen Keller:
Helen Keller died June 1, 1968, but she lives. The Helen Keller Institute served approximately 300 million people last year.
In 1904 Helen Keller graduated cum laude from Radcliffe. The first deafblind person to earn a college degree. Mark Twain and Alexander Graham Bell supported Helen’s education.
Helen Keller became a person of global influence nominated for the Nobel Prize, awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and an Academy Award.
Helen Keller is one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, along with Einstein and Gandhi.
Helen Keller influenced the world.
Anne Sullivan:
Anne Sullivan died October 20, 1936, but she lives. Anne saved Helen Keller.
Anne’s father abandoned her. She landed in the infamous Tewksbury Almshouse known for overcrowding and abuse. Within three months Anne’s brother, Jimmie, died. She overcame.
Anne graduated valedictorian from the Perkins School.
March 3, 1887, Anne Sullivan became Helen Keller’s teacher. Helen called it her ‘soul’s birthday’. Their relationship spanned 49 years.
Helen Keller knocked out one of Anne Sullivan’s teeth. (Both Anne and Helen were incorrigible in their youth.)
Anne Sullivan influenced Helen Keller.
Floor maid:
Helen Keller’s great grandniece tells the story of an elderly floor maid at the Tewksbury Almshouse who changed Anne Sullivan’s life. Anne was often caged to control her.
A floor maid baked Anne a cake and left it near her cage. The maid eventually became able to calm Anne so that she could be examined. They discovered she was almost blind.
A maid influenced Anne Sullivan.
Who will you influence today?
Note: An embellished version of the floor maid story has been discounted by Snopes.
Thank you. I needed this today.
My pleasure, M. We all need encouragement. Cheers
And not just who might I influence today, but how! For good or ill? Thanks, Dan.
Thanks Pete. You remind me that there’s a dark side to influence. If we aren’t paying attention to our influence we may unintentionally hinder others.
Thanks for showing the miracle of Helen Keller, Dan! I’ve encountered a few in my life, and they always refresh me, focus and strengthen my efforts and demonstrate unbelievably strong and faithful results!
Thanks Sam. It’s a gift to have a positive influence in our life. There may be someone who has achieved remarkable results without the positive influence of others, but I don’t know them.
It’s also a gift to be a positive influence. Cheers.
Leadership is influence…how wilI I lead today???