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The Only Thing Worse Than Being Blind Is Having Sight But No Vision


Helen Keller was made of strength and perseverance. I remember first reading “The Miracle Worker” in high school and being completely taken by not only Annie Sullivan’s commitment to helping Helen, but also Helen’s true isolation until the woman came into her life.

The quote, "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision,” could be interpreted multiple ways. For me, vision is what drives us forward. It’s a form of curiosity, imagination, and creativity. If you don’t have any vision or you simply choose not to use it, you’ll never expand beyond your current life experience. 

Albert Einstein, another hero of mine, has a few quotes along these same lines. The two that I refer to the most often are: “Imagination is more important than knowledge;” and “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination.” What would have happened if Einstein had simply chosen not to push himself? What would have happened if Helen Keller simply learned how to communicate, but never pushed herself to become an example for other deaf and mute people like her?

Vision enables you to look past your current surroundings, your current situation and see what could be, not just what is. I firmly believe this type of vision is what has enabled me to undertake a new degree and look to start a new career at the age of 40. While it may not seem like the most daring risk to take, I do believe that my vision of what my life could be has given me the courage to make big, life-changing decisions in the pursuit of my degree. If I was unable to see past the present, what hope would I have that things could change? What hope would anyone have?

Essay submission for www.marveloptics.com.

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