Many starfish washed up on shore.  A young boy started picking them up and throwing them back into the ocean.  Someone saw what he was doing and told him that it was pointless, that there were too many to save, that it wouldn’t make a difference.  Throwing another starfish into the sea, the little boy responded, "It makes a difference to this one."

This often retold tale, originally from The Star Thrower, a collection of essays by the naturalist and writer
Loren Eiseley, is a favorite of many as an example of how we each individually can make a difference.  Businesses and organizations ranging from socially responsible investing and real estate to animal rights and children’s issues have quoted this story as a way of explaining their mission and purpose. 

While it’s a motivating and inspirational perspective on making a difference, I’ve often wondered when I’ve heard or read this story: what made the starfish wash up in the first place?  What could have been done to prevent them from getting beached? 

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Curt Rosengren, at Occupational Adventure, has a great series of posts under his category called Making A Difference.  I may try to post to some of these individually later, but for now, take a look at the set of them. Great writing and thinking as usual from Curt!