One of my favorite beach stories, which appears in many versions found easily with a Google search, is about an “experienced” beach walker strolling the beach as the tide was going out. Along the shoreline various sea creatures were left exposed as the tide waters receded. On this particular day, there was an abundance of starfish scattered about the shoreline as far as one could see. In the distance, a young boy was scurrying about the shoreline picking up the starfish and tossing them back into the sea toward deeper water. The beach walker watched as the boy tirelessly tossed starfish after starfish back into the ocean. The boy was very focused on his task and seemed to enjoy watching the starfish slowly sink after the gentle toss. As the beach walkers approached, they told the boy that there were hundreds of starfish on the beach. He could not possibly rescue all of them and he would never make a difference. The boy stopped and looked down the shoreline as held a starfish in his hand. He then tossed it into the ocean, and watched it splash and sink. He then looked up at the beach walker and said, “It made a difference for that one.” That impact statement was the end of the story.
I can only assume that the young boy went about his adventure with even more enthusiasm and perhaps with a little more purpose. I also imagined that the beach walker was caught off guard by the lesson that the boy just conveyed.
Over time, I began to imagine how the beach walker’s negative, hopeless perspective could have crushed the boy’s enthusiasm by overwhelming him with the sight of hundreds of helpless sea creatures stranded on the beach. This person interrupted the boy as he played his game of saving starfish and having some fun tossing them in the water. They were unaware that the comment could have taken the joy out of the boy’s activity. I assume that the starfish rescuer never planned on being in the zone that he was in. He would explore the wonders at the beach, run under the sun, play in the water and if he’s lucky, find some interesting sea creatures. He got DOUBLE PRIZES: plenty of things to look at in the receding shoreline AND, a chance to pick up and toss things in the water. As for the starfish, many got another day in the sea. The young boy was a Giver and was making difference and had a lot of fun doing it. Whenever I go to the ocean, I find myself also playing the game of tossing the stranded sea creatures back into the ocean. I certainly enjoy the process of making a difference and seeing the results right away.
This week’s bottom line:
1. Be naturally curious
2. Be aware of the negative “Takers” perspective and stick to your values
3. Choose to make a difference without expecting a payback
4. A few hours at the beach will help recalibrate your line of sight, literally.
