One day a man was walking on the beach at dawn and noticed an individual who was picking up an object and throwing it into the waves.  Curious, he walked closer and asked, “What are you doing?”  The stranger replied, “I’ve been walking this beach and noticed some starfish washed up on the shore last night by the high tide. They will dry up and die, so I ‘m throwing them back in to the water.”  Surprised, the man says, “At the speed you’re going, you won’t get as far down the beach as you can see before the tide will wash them up again. What difference will it make if you pick up one or two starfish and put them back into the ocean?”  Before answering, the stranger stopped to pick up one perfect little starfish and said, “I don’t know how much difference one person can make in the whole scheme of things.”  Then, as he gently tossed the starfish back into the waves he added, “But one thing I do know…to this one, it makes all the difference in the world.”

-Author Unknown