Helen Keller's Take on Definition of Happiness

Helen Keller in 1905, activist, lecturer and author - Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: Helen Keller was both a pioneer and blind, deaf and mute in a time long before computers, society's compassion or teachers who understood she was smart but locked inside a body that did not function like everyone else.

It was amazing to read about how Helen grew as a person as her teacher figured her way through the process to reach and educate her. It was a great accomplishment for both student and teacher.

Sign language was just beginning to develop at this time as the educational system was starting to address the needs of the deaf, moving away from writing them off as stupid and unteachable. What Helen learned along the way was deep, thoughtful and inspirational. There are many incredible quotes attributed to Helen Keller.

“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” — Helen Keller

Where is Your Path of Happiness Traveling?

Road Race Image by AFP/Getty Images via Daylife

From Denny: I really like this quote because it is both true and it certainly has happened a number of times to me. Probably has happened to you a lot too. It can apply to your life path or just bad driving directions!

“The really happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery when on a detour.” — Unknown

*** Notice how the car is literally lifted off the ground!

Why Would Anyone Consider Happiness a Duty?

From Denny: It never ceases to amaze me how a writer from about 200 years ago can reach out from the past to say something so profound... I am in awe! Would this have occurred to you?

“There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. By being happy we sow anonymous benefits upon the world.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

How is Happiness Easily Acquired?

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“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.” — James Oppenheim

Happiness Described by the Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: Now here is a soul that knows what he is talking about. He has endured a hostile atmosphere and the life of a nomad for all his adult life. He knows a thing or two about how to maintain a happy disposition no matter what your environment.

“The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy.” — H.H. the Dalai Lama (Tanzin Gayatso, 14th Dalai Lama and leader of exiled Tibetan government). He also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

Happiness Can Be Funny!

From Denny: This is a happiness quote I haven't seen and it sure made me laugh! Check out the photo of this gorgeous albino peacock in full feather display.

“Happiness is excitement that has found a settling down place. But there is always a little corner that keeps flapping around.” — E.L. Konigsburg

Memorial Day Poems

From Denny: These are a selection from many wonderful poems written with heavy hearts and great sincerity about the reality of how war affects us all. The old men who send young men to war rarely stop long enough - or at all - to consider their haste to anger and action affects the entire nation for generations to come.

The following are not glory poems but rather the perspectives of those involved in war be they one soldier, a POW, a mother, a daughter, a citizen who knew none of them but felt a duty to pray for them constantly, knowing the personal cost war would bring to all. They span several wars from the Civil War to WWII, the Korean War and today's Iraq and Afghanistan War.

These poems came from the comprehensive Memorial Day site where there is much more than poems to view. Please take a look today as you remember those who came before us.

For the link to the Memorial Day Poems post at my poetry blog, The Social Poets, go here.

Wisdom From Anne Frank

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“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.” — Anne Frank

3 Key Ingredients to Achieving Happiness?

“The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” — Allan K. Chalmers

Photo by Krikit @ flickr

Bee Poetry: Pollen for tea

Pollen for tea, originally uploaded by Steve Punter.

Pollen for tea
Weight for weight
she carries
more home
on her legs
than I do in my
bags

Plastic sacks

And I do it at most
once
a day

Mostly
fat from tesco
and some protein from Lidl

She shops
till she drops

Nectar
in her gullet
and pollen
for her siblings

A worker
woman
less than a month and
she will be gone

Uploaded by Steve Punter on 21 May 09, 11.25AM CDT.

How Well Do You See the Manipulator in Your Life?

From Denny: Now here is someone who has caught on to the devious manipulator that other people rarely see, let alone know and understand when their game is in play.

It also is a strong comment about toxic politics!


"The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on." - Robert Bloch

How to Deal with a Bad Memory: Humorously!

Photo of Nietzsche in 1875

"The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time." - German philosopher Friedrich Nietzche

For many more amusing quotes from this serious man, hike yourself on over to The Social Poets for Cheeky Quote Day! 20 May 2009 - go here.

How Do You Live With Honor in a Dishonorable World?

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"The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be." - Socrates

This is an interesting related article that took some Socrates' quotes and illustrated how to employ that good character in your social media life to be successful!

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• What Socrates Can Teach You About Social Media (jessenewhart.com)

Do You Know the Main Ingredient for Courage?

Art is when the eyes follow you Image by Stephen Poff via Flickr

From Denny: This is one of those quotes where the truth is hidden in plain sight!

“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.” — James Baldwin

How is Greatness Measured?

Image by now_photos via Flickr

From Denny: So often society measures the worth of a person by how many things they own, the high price those "things" cost, and how quickly they are acquired. Here is another more truthful definition of greatness by a female civil rights leader who was honored at a leadership conference.

“Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition he or she has to overcome to reach his [or her] goals.” – Dr. Dorothy Height, honoree at Leadership Conference on Civil Rights

How Do You Achieve Greatness With Little Effort?

From Denny: Have you ever noticed how human nature does not change over the centuries? You have only to read what writer Mark Twain said 100 years ago to realize it still holds true.

All the success gurus and positive thinkers of today are recycling truisms of the past because there is little institutional memory from generation to generation. What memory we do have of what humanity has managed to figure out as truth is deposited in our literature from ancient history to today.

“Keep away from small people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” - Mark Twain

Photo by muha... @ flickr

Funny Definition of Insanity!

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From Denny: This past century's widely acclaimed genius, Albert Einstein, was one funny guy; he saw the humor and truth in life on many levels. His following quote is so universal in application it could be applied to the math and science fields as well as the field of personal relationships. How many family and marriage dynamics have you witnessed that exhibit this same process?

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein

Below are two videos on Einstein's life. By his own admission he felt he spent his entire life trying to understand one thing: light.

Have You Heard an African Proverb Lately?

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From Denny: I thought this photo of an African lion to be appropos first for the physical setting of Africa. It is also a good fit for what is known in the spiritual ancient mystery schools as "the lion of ego" that must be tamed, disciplined and taught to follow the Spirit. The ego consciousness is meant to work in concert with the Spirit as a team effort.

Spirituality is simple in concept and long on perfecting the practice to reap the benefits. Waste no time with guilt but rather with practicing the positive to develop limitless strength - just like the lion!

"Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped." - African proverb

How Would You Define a Free Society?

Adlai Stevenson shows aerial photos of Cuban missiles to the United Nations in November 1962 (his father was 23rd Vice President of America) Image via Wikipedia

"My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular." - Adlai E. Stevenson Jr.

Are You Any Good at Fooling Other People?

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From Denny: This is a famous quote that makes us all smile. But did you remember who actually said it? Quite the surprise to be coming from this historical figure!

"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time." - President Abraham Lincoln

What is the Most Difficult Test for a Person?

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From Denny: From a beloved President come some very wise words. And he ought to know of what he spoke; he lived it!

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln






A couple of very interesting articles to read too!

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• President Lincoln heard more 'No' than 'Yes' (imperfectaction.com)
• Ronald White - "A. Lincoln: A Biography" (eyeonbooks.com)

How Do You Practice Your Way to a Successful Life?

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

From Denny: This quote exhibits that wonderful progression to attaining the life we all want to live. Simply and sparsely stated, so true, and a great way to practice our way to success!


"Sow an act...reap a habit;

Sow a habit...reap a character;

Sow a character...reap a destiny."

- George Dana Boardman

How Do the Wise Deal with Fear in Dangerous Moments?

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From Denny: Another one of my favorite writers for fabulous quotes. I find it amazing how the words written or spoken over a century ago can still define our human condition.

"The wise man in the storm prays God, not for safety from danger, but for deliverance from fear." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

How Do You React to the Winds of Change in Your Life?

Denmark's 70 year old wooden sailing boat Kleine Freiheit Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: This quote is just awesome! Any really good quote speaks the truth, then states the opposites and kicks it up a notch to show us how to reach higher.

”The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.” - John Maxwell

What Are the 3 Ways to Lose Your Money?

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From Denny: Yet another charming money quote to make you smile for the truth in it! Especially since this is the month of the famous Kentucky Derby.

"There are three ways of losing money: racing is the quickest, women the most pleasant, and farming the most certain." — Lord Amherst

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• Old Fashioned, a Kentucky Derby Favorite, Could Have a Career-Ending Injury (nytimes.com)
• How to Pick a Kentucky Derby Winner (bleacherreport.com)

Are You Too Rich to Work?

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From Denny: This money quote gave me a grin today! What practical advice to get our heads out of the clouds and back to reality while making us laugh too.

"Every morning I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I’m not there, I go to work." — Robert Orben

Here are some interesting related articles:

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• PHOTOS: The World's Billionaires List Shrinks For First Time In Six Years (huffingtonpost.com)
• Forbes Billionaires (manolith.com)
• Why Bad Times Breed Better Habits (usnews.com)
• Warren Buffett says financial crisis is 'economic Pearl Harbor' (telegraph.co.uk)