Essay/Term paper: Three days to see

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Miscellaneous

Three Days to See



This short story deals with how people take advantage



of having the privileges to see, hear, and speak. Some



people, unfortunately, are blind, deaf, and mute. These



unfortunate people take more time to appreciate life and



the wonders it has to offer. The author, Helen Keller, is



one such person who is blind, deaf, and mute. She believes



strongly that people, who are fortunate to have such senses,



take life for granted. She also believes strongly in living



life to the fullest, meaning, accomplish what you can today



instead of leaving it for tomorrow.



An example from the story of how people take life for



granted is when one says, "I know that I will die one day,



but it will not happen for a long time." This is when



reality strikes. Death comes in many ways, the worst is



when it is unsuspected and surprising. One can die at any



moment, no matter how healthy or in what physical shape he



is in. Building on that idea, Helen came across many



instances relating to the previous one mentioned. She had



asked her friend what she had seen after taking a walk



through the woods, and her friend replied, "Nothing in



particular." This is also a perfect example of how people



with the gift and ability to see, take it for granted.



As stated before, Helen also believed in living life to



the fullest. She believed in taking risks, and exploring



new areas and wonders, for one does not know when his life



will end. A perfect phrase for her would be "Carpe Diam",



meaning seize the day. She states how people, since they



are in great health, believe that death will arrive to them



slowly. The question that arouses them when the end comes



is, "Did I accomplish everything I could in my life on



earth?"



Helen Keller"s dream was to have the ability to see for



three days. She dreamed about looking into her trustworthy



dog"s eyes, seeing an innocent baby"s face, objects in her



home, taking long walks in the forest, watching sunsets and



sunrises, and visiting museums, such as the New York Museum



of Natural History. Helen Keller would really appreciate



everything in life, including the smallest of things, such



as insects or flowers we ignore everyday. Hearing and



reading about what she wanted to see, makes people think if



they have appreciated all those things she mentioned.



The ability to hear, speak, and see are gifts from God,



and should not be taken granted for. Many people, including



ourselves, take these gifts from God for granted. After



reading this short story, and the experiences of this



brilliant person, one may change his way in life, and really



learn to appreciate what he has. This story has a very



strong message, and puts the question in people"s minds,



"Have I or will I appreciate what gifts I have, and do I



think of those who are not as fortunate as me to have all 5



senses?"