avatarRobert Ralph

Summary

A man's perspective shifts from helplessness to action after observing a young girl's determination to save starfish stranded on a beach, illustrating the impact of individual efforts in making a difference.

Abstract

While walking on the beach, a man encounters thousands of starfish washed ashore and initially feels overwhelmed by the sight, believing he cannot make a difference. However, his outlook changes when he sees a little girl methodically returning starfish to the sea, an act that inspires him and others to join in. The girl's simple yet profound response to the man's question about the significance of their actions—that each starfish saved matters to that individual starfish—drives home the importance of helping others, one at a time. This story serves as a metaphor for the collective impact of small, compassionate acts.

Opinions

  • The man initially underestimates the impact of individual actions due to the scale of the problem.
  • The little girl's actions demonstrate a belief in the value of each life and the difference one person can make.
  • The man's transformation from a bystander to an active participant reflects a change in mindset from resignation to hope and empowerment.
  • The narrative suggests that collective efforts, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, can lead to meaningful change.
  • The story conveys an optimistic view of human nature, highlighting our capacity for empathy, cooperation, and the desire to make a positive impact.

Thousands Of Star Fish

What would you do?

Photo by Mathis Jrdl on Unsplash

One day a man walked across the beach, it was a real picture, he could see thousands and thousands of starfish washed up trying to get back into the ocean.

Starfish can’t survive out of the water. They will soon die if exposed to open air. These are water breathing and can use only their dermal gills present on the upper surface of the body to breathe, so Starfish can only breathe underwater.

As he was looking thinking to himself that there was nothing he could do to help, as there were simply too many and the ocean tide was going out, he turned around to walk away.

It was then he saw a little girl, they were picking the Starfish up and putting them back in the water, the man was very confused, however, inspired by what they were doing he went to join them.

Before long a few more people joined in and there were as many as ten people now putting these wonderful sea creatures back to their homes in the water.

The man asked one of the girls a question. “Why are you putting these starfish back into the ocean, there are far too many to save, so what does it really matter?”

Her response was truly amazing, she picked up a Starfish and as she was putting it back in she said, “to this Starfish, it makes a difference, it means it will live”

The mans face filled up with tears, what a wonderful and thoughtful human being this little girl was, he felt awful for his earlier thoughts and pledge to help as many Starfish as he could.

Information About Starfish

Sea stars, commonly called, “starfish,” are not fish!

Sea stars live underwater, but that is where their resemblance to fish ends. They do not have gills, scales, or fins. Sea stars live only in saltwater. Seawater, instead of blood, is actually used to pump nutrients through their bodies via a ‘water vascular system.’

Also, sea stars move by using tiny tube feet located on the underside of their bodies. Adult sunflower sea stars can move at the astonishing speed of one meter per minute using 15,000 tube feet. Tube feet also help sea stars hold their prey.

Sea stars are related to sand dollars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers, all of which are echinoderms, meaning that they have five-point radial symmetry. However, this does not mean that all sea stars have five arms and species with 10, 20, or even 40 arms exist! If one of these arms is lost, a sea star has the amazing ability to regenerate it.

Written by Robert Ralph

Buy me a Ko-fi

Join Medium here (affiliate link)

Support
Helping Others
Fish
Beach
Inpiration
Recommended from ReadMedium
avatarKelli Huggins
Old Lady Privilege

There are perks to being elderly if you’re creative enough.

2 min read
avatarRuth Boukhari
The Weeping Woman

A poem that haunts

2 min read
avatarAvinash B
I Lost Something Precious On The Beach In Goa

A story of sand, sunset and the ceaseless march of time

6 min read
avatarKevin Beaumont
Recall: Stealing everything you’ve ever typed or viewed on your own Windows PC is now possible.

Photographic memory comes to Windows, and is the biggest security setback in a decade.

9 min read
avatarEllen "Jelly" McRae
I Self-Published My Book. Two Days Later, I’m Full Of Regret.

Here’s everything I wish I’d done differently in the publishing and book-writing process.

12 min read
avatarDelaney Gibbons
Enjoying the *Self Care Ritual* of a Bubble Bath

Am I doing this right?

2 min read