A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.
She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, “Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”
The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied,
“Well, I made a difference to that one!”
The old man looked at the girl inquisitively and thought about what she had done and said. Inspired, he joined the little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved. - adapted from the Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley
Perseverance against all odds and also against the critique of others is the very strength of idealism, as is refusing to accept failure. Do you understand that we hold in our hands the power to change a life, a mind, or a circumstance today? Yes, you do – right now – it is an amazing insight and motivator. At the same time, idealistic acts, even highly symbolic ones, have the power to inspire OTHERS to act, and sometimes in numbers significant enough to make a major or even complete impact on the problem at hand. Never doubt that what you do, and what you say, has an impact on others - as well as yourself.
How much power do YOU have to change a mind or a life, a situation - or even your own habits... think about it.
She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, “Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”
The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied,
“Well, I made a difference to that one!”
The old man looked at the girl inquisitively and thought about what she had done and said. Inspired, he joined the little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved. - adapted from the Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley
Perseverance against all odds and also against the critique of others is the very strength of idealism, as is refusing to accept failure. Do you understand that we hold in our hands the power to change a life, a mind, or a circumstance today? Yes, you do – right now – it is an amazing insight and motivator. At the same time, idealistic acts, even highly symbolic ones, have the power to inspire OTHERS to act, and sometimes in numbers significant enough to make a major or even complete impact on the problem at hand. Never doubt that what you do, and what you say, has an impact on others - as well as yourself.
How much power do YOU have to change a mind or a life, a situation - or even your own habits... think about it.
As always, make champion choices,
Debra
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