TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD... THE STARFISH STORY!

I expect like me you are constantly frustrated by the challenges we face in our work, our families and our lives. Sometimes, I feel that these challenges are so great that it is difficult to know where to start. But, I always want to stay positive and do my little bit that hopefully will add to the efforts of those similarly minded individuals and change the world. That's why I love this story...

"While walking along a beach, a man saw in the distance what looked like a boy dancing....
He was encouraged by the outward expression of someone dancing to the new day on the beach, and he approached the young man. As he got closer, he realized that the young man was actually running, leaning down, picking something up and then gently throwing it far into the sea.
As he came closer, he saw thousands of starfish the tide had thrown onto the beach. Unable to return to the ocean during the low tide, the starfish were dying. He observed the young man picking up the starfish one by one and throwing them back. After watching the seemingly futile effort, the observer said to the young man, "There must be thousands of starfish on this beach. It would be impossible for you to get to all of them. There is simply too many. You can't possibly save enough to make a difference."

The boy bent down and picked up another starfish which he gently threw out into the sea. "It made a difference to that one," he replied.

The older man shook his head at the impossible optimism of the young man, and then turned away and walked home. That night, he sat for a long time thinking of the young man, and how determined the young man was to really affect the world and take action to make a difference. Something that the older man would like to do. That night he slept fitfully. In the morning, he awoke, went down to the beach and found the young man again. Then together, they went along the beach shore tossing starfish back into the ocean."

You might not be in  powerful position or be able to do the big things but every small step takes us closer to where we should be. Every one of us can do something; be a mentor, a coach, a supporter, a guide, an advocate, a friend and we can all make a difference! Together we can change the world!