Making a Difference
One day an old man was walking along the beach when he noticed a figure in the distance. As he got closer, he realized the figure was that of a young man picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the young man, he asked, "What are you doing?"
The youth replied, "Throwing a starfish in 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 realize that there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can't possibly make a difference!"
After listening politly, the young man bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, "I made a difference for that one."
Approaching the young man, he asked, "What are you doing?"
The youth replied, "Throwing a starfish in 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 realize that there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can't possibly make a difference!"
After listening politly, the young man bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, "I made a difference for that one."
Original story by Loren Eiseley