Perseverance story: What does making a difference look like

Once upon a time, there was an old man who loved the ocean. Every morning, he would walk along the shore before beginning his writing, letting the sound of the waves and the salty breeze inspire his thoughts. The beach was his favorite place, where he found peace and creativity in the simple rhythm of nature. One morning, as he strolled along the shoreline, he noticed something unusual in the distance. A human figure was moving gracefully, almost as if dancing. Curious, the old man smiled to himself, wondering who would be dancing on the beach so early in the day. Intrigued, he quickened his pace to get a closer look. As he approached, he realized that the figure was not dancing at all. It was a young man, and he was moving with great care. The old man watched as the boy bent down, picked something up from the sand, and then, with a gentle but purposeful motion, threw it into the sea. Again and again, the young man repeated this action. Finally, the old man reached him and called out, “Good morning! What are you doing?” The young man paused, looked up, and answered, “I’m throwing starfish back into the ocean.”

The old man, puzzled, took a moment to observe the scene. The beach stretched for miles, and along the shore, countless starfish lay stranded by the receding tide. He frowned and then asked, “I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” The young man’s face was calm but determined. “The sun is up, and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” The old man looked down the vast shoreline, covered with thousands of starfish, and shook his head with disbelief. “But, young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach, with starfish covering it? You can’t possibly make a difference!” The young man listened respectfully. Then, without a word, he bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it far into the sea, beyond the breaking waves. Turning back to the old man, he said simply, “It made a difference for that one.” The old man stood still for a moment, deep in thought. He had spent his whole life looking at the world in big, broad strokes, always focusing on the scale of things. He had forgotten that even the smallest action could have meaning. The young man was right, he might not be able to save every starfish, but to each one he saved, his effort meant everything. Inspired, the old man bent down, picked up a starfish, and tossed it gently into the waves. Then he picked up another. And another. Soon, others walking along the beach saw what they were doing and joined in. Before long, dozens of people were helping, each throwing as many starfish as they could back into the ocean. That day, the old man learned an important lesson: that no act of kindness is ever too small. While one person may not be able to change the entire world, they can change the world for someone or something. And sometimes, all it takes is one small act to inspire many more.