The Old Man and the Starfish

One day an old man was walking along a beach littered with thousands of starfish washed ashore by the high tide. He came upon a young boy who was throwing the starfish back into the ocean; one by one.

Puzzled, the old man asked the boy what he was doing. Without looking up, the boy replied, “I’m saving these starfish mister.” The old man chuckled. “Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you, what difference can you make?”

The boy picked up a starfish and tossed it into the water. He turned and looked up at the old man. “I made a difference to that one.” he said.