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Remember the Starfish

Posted September 3rd, 2009 in Motivation

I was just flipping through an older version of our Coaching Guidebook and I found the Starfish Poem that we’d published on the front cover. I was struck by just how perfect and meaningful it is for us all as educators, coaches, parents, mentors, and friends.

Remember the Starfish as you enter into this new school year – your work is heroically important, never lose sight of that. Ever.

Once upon a time there was a wise man
who used to go to the ocean
to do his writing.

He had a habit of walking
on the beach
before he began his work.

One day he was walking along
the shore.
As he looked down the beach,
he saw a human
figure moving like a dancer.

He smiled to himself to think
of someone who would
dance to the day.
So he began to walk faster
to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw
that it was a young man
and the young man wasn’t dancing,
but instead he was reaching
down to the shore,
picking up something
and very gently throwing it
into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out,
“Good morning! What are you doing?”
The young man paused,
looked up and replied,
“Throwing starfish in the ocean.”

“I guess I should have asked,
why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?”
“The sun is up and the tide is going out.
And if I don’t throw them in they’ll die.”

“But, young man, don’t you realize that
there are miles and miles of beach
and starfish all along it.
You can’t possibly make a difference!”

The young man listened politely.
Then bent down, picked up another starfish
and threw it into the sea,
past the breaking waves and said-
“It made a difference for that one.”

~Author Unkown