One Starfish
A man was walking along a beach at sunrise. As he walked, he could see a young girl in the distance. He noticed that the girl kept bending down, picking something up, and throwing it into the water. Again and again she kept hurling things into the ocean. As the man came closer, he saw that the girl was picking up starfish that had been washed up by the tide. One at a time she was throwing them back into the water. When asked what she was doing, she replied, “I am throwing these washed up starfish back into the ocean, or else they will die.” “But,” said the man, “you can’t possibly save them all, there are thousands on this beach, and this must be happening on hundreds of beaches along the coast. You can’t possibly make a difference.” The girl smiled, bent down, picked up another starfish and as she threw it, she replied,
“It makes a difference to that one.”
My friend JAngel sent the above story to me yesterday and I had to post it today because I loved it. “It makes a difference to that one,” resonated with me so fully that I knew I had to share it with you today. Just a reminder that even the smallest gesture to someone else can make a huge difference!
So please, smile today…be kind today…enjoy this Friday and please hug a friend today.
Spread sunshine wherever you go today, BE that ONE DIFFERENCE!
Happy Friday to YOU!
xo
P.S. The original is written by “Loren Eiseley” – ”The Star Thrower,” with the child being a boy and not a girl. The version I was sent had a girl which is why I posted it the way I did. My special thanks to Viveka for the additional information. Please visit her blog post here!
Misifusa's Blog 
Happy Friday back! Love this!!
So happy you loved it! 🙂 I did too! ❤
This is one of my favorite stories…ever! Thank you for posting it!
Christina
It’s one of mine too…xo
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Wow, two people and the same thought … and nearly in the same month too *smile – suddenly a boy has become a girl … why not. *smile
It matters not who saves the starfish ~ just what we do makes a difference, right? 🙂 I like that we have a boy and a girl throwing them back, don’t you think? It makes it nice that both can make a difference! *smiling back at you!*
No it doesn’t matter … who saves the fish, you’re so write – but I think it’s not right against the author that has written the piece that we don’t give him the credit and we don’t have the right to change the story neither. That’s what I mean.
I agree ~ I just repeated what I’d seen. Do you know if it was a boy or girl that the author chose?
It’s a boy .. and on my post I have a link to the author.
It’s a very old story.
I don’t blame you, because I know that it was sent to you – but people don’t care .. what they pass on – and don’t do any investigation before they send neither.
Viveka, thank you. I updated my post (see the p.s.) and linked to your blog as I appreciate your knowledge. ♥ I love when we can help each other and connect!
You are an action girl … *smile
I was pulled up by using a Swedish photographers photos, but he was okay with it because I had his name stated on my post and also on the photo.
Of course we have to help each other.
I HEARTily agree with you! ♥ We do have to help eachother ~ and from one action girl to another, thank you for helping me! ♥
My pleasure … I’m sure you will keep an eye on me too .. and my Swenglish.
Great job with your Swenglish! 🙂
Thanks. *smile
It was also adapted into a children’s story in 2006. Called, “Sara and the Starfish.” It re-tells the story from the eyes of a young girl as well as the starfish itself, though the moral of the story is the same as the original idea told by Eiseley.
Excellent … you have done your part. And you didn’t have to link it up with my post, but million thanks. The full story is really beautiful to read.
Viveka, I wanted to link up to your post for without you, I wouldn’t have the full story. Thank YOU for being mindful, for sharing and for connecting with me! ♥
My pleasure … I love the story .. so am I more then happy to share it.