You may have heard The Starfish Story before; we personally find it very inspiring. It’s important to be reminded that all change begins with you, and every step towards positive change counts, no matter how big or small – you can make a difference! Have a read of the story below; it’s been adapted from The Star Thrower, by Loren Eiseley.
Once upon a time, there was an old man who was walking along the beach where thousands of starfish had been washed ashore. As he walked further down, he noticed a young boy who was walking slowly and stopping often, so he could throw things into the ocean.
As the old man got closer he noticed that the young boy was picking up one starfish after another and tossing each one gently into the ocean.
The old man was confused and so asks the young boy, “Why are you throwing starfish in to the ocean?” The young boy then goes on to explain, “Well the Sun is up and the tide is going out, if I don’t throw them in further, they will die.”
Upon hearing this, the old man replied, “But, young boy, you do realise that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly save them all. Your efforts won’t make a difference at all!”
The young boy then bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “It made a difference to that one.”
The idea of changing the world can be so overwhelming that it’s eliminated before it’s even begun, but change to just one starfish in the story above made a world of difference.
A lot of the time we tend to have these ideas about change, but we are quick to dismiss the ideas due to our own perception of time – primarily that we lack it. Or sometimes, we even question ourselves and say “how much difference can I really make?” Changing the world is an enormous task at hand. However you can change a small part of it, you can change it for someone else and this can lead to change for others. When counting positive numbers, you start with 0 (self) and then move on to 1 (other), 2 (others) and so on.
Author: Vex King
I am the founder and owner of the Bon Vita lifestyle brand. I could give myself a title and call myself a lifestyle entrepreneur, personal mentor, writer, designer, innovator, CEO, or anything else I see as fitting. However no title can define me as an individual. I’m just an optimist, a visionary, a philanthropist and jack of many trades. I’m using my positive influence to redefine the creative industries using Good Vibes Only #GVO so that people can fulfil their dreams, purposefully, and enjoy The Good Life #TGL. My daily words of intent are to make people… Think, look & feel GOOD!
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