What Creates Real Joy

The best work is that which we do when we experience the joy of creation — when we feel that it is a part of ourselves, our child as it were which we are proud to show to others. Millet, the French artist, was obliged to paint signs to earn a living, but that was not his best work. In his leisure house he painted his masterpieces, ‘The Angelus’ and ‘The Gleaners.’ for the sheer love of painting.

All of us are not as gifted as Millet, but I think if we would only try, we should be surprised to find how many touches of loveliness we could impart to the prosaic, work-a-day life about us.

If we could become more aware of the power within us to give form and colour to our individuality, we should have a joyous sense of beauty in common things. There is an individuality, a friendliness in things made by hand that are not to be found in the perfect machine product.

Who has not noticed that when a child is left to himself he is always dong something? He is a little mechanic fashioning the world to his own fancy. Let us learn from our children and do things with our own hands for the mere joy of it.

The forms of life change from age to age, but fundamental human needs never change. We must, by all means, give vent to our creative faculties and try to develop our sense of colour, form and design. The thought I am anxious to express and have understood is this – things we do ourselves make us happy.

— Helen Keller