Make a Difference

Several years ago I noticed a tattoo on my uncle's wrist. It surprised me because he's not the typical tattooed guy, this was new. At family gatherings he's the uncle in stylish well-appointed clothing with sensible glasses and tip top haircut. I'm the "why" girl so I asked..."Why do you have a starfish on your arm?" My uncle was excited to share the story.

The Starfish Story

'It made a difference for that one'

One day, a wise man was walking along the beach and saw a figure moving like a dancer. As he got closer, he noticed the young man was reaching down, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He called out 'May I ask what it is that you are doing?' The young man replied 'Throwing starfish into the ocean.'

'Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?' asked the wise man. The young man replied, 'The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die.'

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 made a difference for that one.'

Adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley (1907-1977)

My uncle told the story with passion and shared that it reminds him of the children in his classes. He was a middle school math teacher and his compassion for making a difference was compelling. The starfish tattoo on his arm was a daily reminder to never give up and make a difference, even if it feels small.

Sometimes it's as simple as looking up from our phones. Yesterday, I was in the grocery store parking lot and spotted a woman struggling with an empty cart. I simply asked, "Can I take that for you?" and it looked like the weight of the world lifted off her shoulders. Who knows what her day was like. If taking a cart for her helped just a little, I'm happy to do it.

This blog is dedicated to my Uncle John. Thank you for sharing the beautiful story and teaching me how important it is to make a difference.

#makeadifference #teachers #believe