#052 STARFISH


A woman was feeling exhausted because she had been working all day in the city, so she decided to drive out to the sea. After she'd driven for over an hour, she arrived at a beautiful, deserted stretch of sand just as the sun was going down.

 The sea was at its highest point of the day, but the tide was just beginning to go out, so she parked her car and started walking. She was strolling along the beach when she noticed a young man who seemed to be dancing at the water's edge. She watched him, as time and again he bent down, picked something up and then threw it into the sea.


As she drew nearer to the man, she saw on the sand thousands of starfish which had been washed onto the beach by the tide. She was amazed because she'd never seen so many starfish at once but, at the same time, she thought it was a sad and hopeless sight because the stranded starfish seemed sure to die when the tide went out and they dried up. Then she noticed that one by one, the young man was tossing them back into the sea. As she watched, it seemed clear to her that his efforts were futile, that no matter how fast or hard he worked, most of the starfish were doomed to die. Intrigued, the woman said to the young man, "There are starfish as far as the eye can see. What difference can saving a few of them possibly make?"

Smiling, the young man bent down to toss another starfish out over the water. "It's just made a big difference to that one," he replied



We all have the opportunity to help create positive change, but most of people sometimes find themselves thinking, “I’m already really busy, and how much of a difference can I really make?”  I think this is especially true when we’re talking about addressing massive social problems like tackling world hunger or finding a cure for cancer, but it pops up all of the time in our everyday lives, as well. So when I catch myself thinking that way, it helps to remember this story.  You might not be able to change the entire world, but at least you can change a small part of it, for someone. 
They say that one of the most common reasons we procrastinate is because we see the challenge before us as overwhelming, and that a good way to counter that is to break the big challenge down into smaller pieces and then take those one at a time–like one starfish at a time.  And to that one starfish, it can make a world of difference.

Comments

  1. Unknown25 May 2018 at 20:37

    No matter how big or difficult the problem is, if we can do something to solve it we have to do it, no matter how small it is because at least we would have contributed something.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown31 May 2018 at 19:16

      That's true Nelly Belen, everything counts, just do it! Don't listen to other people when they tell you bad or negative things because most of them are pessimistic, don't let them turn you into something you aren't.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous27 September 2018 at 14:49

    I agree.
    There are many problems some of them out of my reach. But, Can we do something about it? I think its possible to help or do something to relevied others. (it doesn't matter if it is a small thing, it may contributed to someone)

    Nathalie H

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unknown21 February 2019 at 14:59

    I agree with your point.
    Personally, I believe the same. I think we can't change all the world one time but we can change small part. First, we can or should do it on ourselves. Then, maybe we can change the live to other people with simple things like a smile, a hug ... because the good vibes are expand.
    After that, we can try to help more and more people.
    Life is beautiful to stop trying.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown16 September 2019 at 14:54

    I agree with your opinion.
    I really liked this story, because the young man knowing that he would only save some stars did it instead the lady just looked at him weird and didn't help. Sometimes we just think about ourselves or what could help if we do something. even the most insignificant thing can be worth a lot, only we don't give it the importance it really deserves. We think that because it is something small, it can not help, but sometimes that is what change really does. We should think more about what we can help before criticizing others for what they do. Many of us usually settle for the little we can do or if we do something we think it is a lot. We have to be more supportive.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Unknown16 September 2019 at 14:55

    I agree with your opinion.
    I really liked this story, because the young man knowing that he would only save some stars did it instead the lady just looked at him weird and didn't help. Sometimes we just think about ourselves or what could help if we do something. even the most insignificant thing can be worth a lot, only we don't give it the importance it really deserves. We think that because it is something small, it can not help, but sometimes that is what change really does. We should think more about what we can help before criticizing others for what they do. Many of us usually settle for the little we can do or if we do something we think it is a lot. We have to be more supportive.
    Camila Ghiorzo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mr. Fab14 February 2020 at 15:52

    We can do a big difference by ourselves. No metter What is the problem small or big. If we can help, We just do it. That´s it the reason for why we need to change. Don´t listen to other people says about us. We can do difference between others. Just we need to be patience and think why I can´t help? <3.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BenSimons14 February 2020 at 15:54

      I agree Broo
      I like your Reaction

      Delete

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