The Starfish Story

I just want to share this famous short story..I really love this story..after I read this for the first time, I started to look at things differently..Before, I used to be like the wise man in the story because I thought I can't make a difference even if I did my best in doing something and so I ended up doing nothing at all to help others..I started taking my efforts for granted..but since that day when I encountered this, I started seing the world from the young boy's perspective..I now do my best in everything especially in my profession wherein I'm dealing with people and life...I know that I can't please everyone and I can't help everyone to get well but I still do my best for each of my patients coz I know that in the end, even if I cannot make a huge impact for everyone in the hospital, at least I made a difference to that one individual under my care :)

I hope you can get inspirations here too..coz I really believe in the phrase that "We can make a difference if we choose!" :)


The Starfish Story
adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley (1907 - 1977)


Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It matters to that one."