Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day.
So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean." "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"
"The sun is up, and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die." "But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach, and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a 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 for that one."
There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can become aware of that gift, we gain through the strength of our visions the power to shape the future. We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our stars wisely and well, the world will be blessed.
從前有一位哲人常到海邊去寫(xiě)作。他有個(gè)習(xí)慣,就是在開(kāi)始之前要到海邊散步。
有一天,他正沿著岸邊走。當(dāng)順著海邊向遠(yuǎn)處看時(shí),他看到個(gè)人,那人的動(dòng)作看起來(lái)像是位舞蹈演員在跳舞。他很高興,以為今天正好能看到有人跳舞。
于 是,他加快步伐以免錯(cuò)過(guò)。當(dāng)靠近之后,他才看清這是一個(gè)年輕人,他不是在跳舞,而是彎下腰來(lái),從海灘上撿著什么,輕輕地扔到海里。他走近了大聲說(shuō):“早上 好!你在做什么?”這個(gè)年輕人停了下來(lái),抬起頭回答道:“把海星扔進(jìn)海里。”“我想我問(wèn)的是,為什么你要把海星扔進(jìn)海里?”
“太陽(yáng) 升起來(lái)了,潮就要退了,如果不把它們?nèi)舆M(jìn)海里,它們將會(huì)死去。”“但是年輕人,難道你沒(méi)有看到這長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的海灘上面布滿了海星。你起不到什么作用的!”年輕人 有禮貌地聽(tīng)著,然后彎下腰,又撿起一只海星扔進(jìn)了海里,穿過(guò)滾涌的波浪走了過(guò)來(lái),他說(shuō)道:“對(duì)于那一只就起作用了。”
我們身邊每一個(gè)人都有特別的地方,我們都被賦予了發(fā)揮某些作用的能力。如果我們能意識(shí)到那種天賦,我們就會(huì)通過(guò)我們的想象力,獲得改變未來(lái)的力量。我們必須找到我們的海星,如果我們明智而恰當(dāng)?shù)匕盐覀兊暮P侨舆M(jìn)了海里,那么這個(gè)世界就得到了祝福。