Tommy had once been a teacher in a past life, but since his retirement and the death of his beloved wife Emily, he thought it a good idea to spend out his remaining years living by the beach house they once spent long hot summer's at each vacation.  Now, each morning, he could walk along the beach breathing in the cool sea air and think of times gone by.

It was on just such a day as he was walking along the shorefront that he happened upon a young man jumping all over the sand as if in some sort of mad panic.  Smiling to himself he thought he'd better go and see what was up or even if there was anything he could do to help the young chap out. So he began to walk as fast as his old legs would carry him to the spot on the beach where he had first noticed him jumping about.

As he got to the spot in question, he saw that the young man wasn't in any real trouble at all.  What he took as some mad sense of panic was just the young man reaching down into the sand before picking something up in his hands that he then gently placed back into the ocean.

Intrigued, he asked the young man inquisitively: "What are you doing?"

The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean."

"Really" said the old man chuckling, "But why would you want to do that?"

Without pausing the young man replied: "The sun's about to come up, and the tide is going out fast. If I don't throw them back in soon they're all going to die."

"But, young man, don't you realize there's miles and miles of sand all covered in starfish, you can't possibly expect to make any real difference!"

The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference to that one."

You see, there is something truly special in each of us. We are all unique and are fully equipped with the ability to make a "real" positive difference in the world.  If we can only hone in on that ability, and use it to full affect, then the world would, indeed, become a much better place in which to live.  Look within and find your own unique way to make a positive difference in the world!