Linked by Purpose - An Article by LaShandri Foxx

Posted May 12th, 2024

Monday Motivation: “What I’m looking for isn’t out there, it’s in me” – Helen Keller

As we start this new week, I am reminded of the incredible partnership between Helen Keller and her teacher, Ann Sullivan. Helen Keller’s life is a testament to the power of perseverance and the discovery of inner strength. Despite being blind and deaf from the age of eighteen months, Helen became a symbol of triumph over adversity. However, her journey wasn’t walked alone—it began with the extraordinary dedication of Ann Sullivan.

Ann Sullivan, herself partially blind and shaped by her own hardships, stepped into Helen’s life when Helen was still a child, frustrated and cut off from the world. At just 20 years old, Ann took on the monumental task of teaching Helen, not just how to communicate but how to understand and interact with the world. Through the tactile alphabet, where Ann spelled words into Helen’s hand, they experienced a pivotal breakthrough. The moment Helen connected the word “water” with the cool liquid pouring over her hand, her world opened up.

From that point, Ann didn’t merely teach Helen words—she guided her toward a life of education, advocacy, and independence. They became lifelong companions, traveling the world and advocating for women’s rights and disability rights. Their relationship was about more than teaching; it was about unlocking potential and seeing what was possible through connection, trust, and purpose.

As we reflect on their journey, it reminds us that the answers we seek are already within us. But sometimes, we need the right people to help us unlock what’s been there all along. Just like Ann and Helen, the relationships we build in our lives hold the key to discovering our own power. Each person in your life is there for a reason—whether to teach you a lesson, support you, or help you awaken the greatness within.

Today, I encourage you to reflect on the people in your life and ask yourself: How am I showing up for them? What are they helping me discover in myself? When we see our connections as part of a divine chain of purpose, we begin to understand that we are not alone in our journey.

Let this week be one where we show up as the best versions of ourselves for those around us, knowing that our purpose is intertwined with theirs. Remember, what you are looking for isn’t out there, it’s in you. And sometimes, it takes the people we journey with to help us see it.

Let’s step into this week with intention, gratitude, and a commitment to growing together.