Today is “World Storytelling Day”.

Adults and children all across the globe will be celebrating the art of storytelling by telling and listening to stories.

I thought I would share one of my favourite short stories with you as a way for us to join in.

It’s adapted from “The Star Thrower” by Loren Eiseley.

A man was walking along a beach after a storm when he came across a young girl throwing starfish that had washed ashore back into the sea.

When he asked her what she was doing, she said that the sun was up and the tide was going out and if she didn’t throw them back into the sea they would die.

She said she had always wanted to make a difference and she had decided that today was a good day to start.

The man looked at the thousands of starfish that lay dying all along the huge beach and said “For every starfish you throw back into the sea, three more wash up onto the sand!

How can you possibly be making a difference?”

The young girl thought for a moment, then picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea.

“Made a difference to that one!” she smiled

 

 

It’s a story that keeps me focussed when I get frustrated that I can only help one person at a time.

It also inspired me to create this column in the hope that I can help more people than I ever could face to face.

What difference can one person make today?

A simple act by the young girl made the world of difference.

What could you do today to make a difference to someone?

It might be as simple as calling a friend or relative that you haven’t spoken to in a while.

Maybe if you receive great service, just genuinely thank the person who gave it.

Or maybe forgiving someone, just because you have the strength to do so.

Whatever it is you decide to do, notice how wonderful you feel and what happens to others as you start to make your own difference today.