Mindset story: Making a difference even if others don't see the meaning

Every Sunday morning, a jogger went for a run around the park near his home. Each time he passed the lake, he noticed the same elderly woman sitting by the water’s edge with a small metal cage beside her. She was always doing something with the cage, but he never got close enough to see what. One Sunday, his curiosity got the best of him, and he decided to stop jogging and walk over to the woman. As he approached, he realized the metal cage was actually a small trap. Inside, three turtles moved slowly at the bottom, unharmed. On her lap, she held a fourth turtle, carefully scrubbing its shell with a small brush. The jogger greeted her, “Hello! I see you here every Sunday morning. If you don’t mind me asking, what exactly are you doing with these turtles?” The elderly woman looked up with a warm smile and replied, “I’m making a difference for these turtles that were abandoned in this lake.” The jogger was taken aback. “How are you making a difference? I don’t understand.”

Still smiling, the woman explained, “I’m cleaning off their shells. When algae and scum build up on a turtle’s shell, it reduces their ability to absorb heat, making it harder for them to regulate their body temperature. It also impedes their ability to swim properly and can weaken the shell over time, making them more vulnerable to predators.” “Wow! That’s really kind of you!” the jogger said, intrigued. He sat down next to her, watching her work. The elderly woman continued, “I spend a couple of hours here every Sunday morning, relaxing by the lake and helping these little ones. It’s my own small way of making a difference. And in the process, I find peace and purpose. Helping them helps me, too.” The jogger nodded but then thought for a moment. “But don’t most freshwater turtles live their whole lives with algae and scum on their shells?” The woman sighed gently, “Yes, sadly, they do.” Still puzzled, the jogger asked, “Well then, don’t you think your time could be better spent? I mean, your efforts are kind and all, but there are turtles living in lakes all around the world. 99% of them don’t have someone like you to help them clean their shells. So, no offense… but how exactly are you making a real difference?” The woman chuckled softly, then looked down at the turtle in her lap. She scrubbed off the last piece of algae from its shell and held it up for the jogger to see. “Sweetie,” she said, “if this little guy could talk, he’d tell you I just made all the difference in the world for him. Can anyone say the same about you?” The jogger sat in thoughtful silence, realizing the depth of her words. It wasn’t about changing the whole world at once, it was about making a difference where you could, no matter how small.