Here’s a well-known story about a stranded starfish and a small act of compassion.
One morning, an old man walking along a beach noticed a young boy throwing stranded starfish back into the sea. The beach was covered with thousands of them.
“Why bother?” the man asked. “You can’t save them all. You can’t make a difference.”
The boy picked up another starfish, tossed it gently into the waves, and replied: “It made a difference to that one.”
Though a parable rather than a true story, I wanted to share it with you because it reflects a truth lived out daily by countless people around the world: small acts of compassion matter. Whether it’s helping a neighbour, showing kindness to a stranger, or protecting those who can’t help themselves, these actions ripple outward in ways we may never fully see.
Reflection
We can’t fix everything – but that’s not a reason to do nothing. Each act of compassion makes a difference to someone, and that is enough.
References:
Dan Millman, Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior
The Star Thrower, Loren Eiseley
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