The boy and the starfish

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a figure in the distance. As he got closer, he realised the figure was that of a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing a starfish into the ocean. The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son” the man said, “don’t you realise there are miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t possibly make a difference?

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the surf.

Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I make a difference for that one.”

”We Make A Difference If We Choose!”

Adapted from “The Star Thrower” by Loren Eisely

Tagged with: making a difference • the boy and the starfish

Filed under: Personal Development

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