The Starfish Story
An old man had a habit of early morning walks on the beach. One day, after a storm, he saw a
human figure in the distance moving like a dancer. As he came closer he saw that it was a young
woman and ghe was not dancing but was reaching down to the sand, picking up a starfish and
very gently throwing them into the ocean.
"Young lady," he asked, "Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"
"The gun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in they will die."
"But young lady, do you not realize that there are Miles and Miles of beach and starfish all along
it? You cannot possibly make a difference."
The youhg woman listened politely, paused and then bent down, picked up another starfish and
threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves,
saying, "It made a difference for that one."
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