The Starfish Story

Published on 26th November 2024
By Natalie Light

This story makes a real difference to me when I feel a bit overwhelmed or down so I wanted to share it with you all . . .

Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions. 

Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching.  As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea.  The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning!  May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”

The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.”

The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!” - adapted from The Star Thrower, by Loren Eiseley (1907 – 1977)

This story has always resonated with me as a Dog Trainer and Behaviourist and the parallels I find within this story are really thought provoking:

·       The stranded Starfish are the dogs and guardians struggling to find an understanding of how to navigate their relationship together.

·       The Boy represents dog trainers who dedicate their time and expertise to helping dogs and their guardians.

·       Throwing Starfish back into the Sea represents the act of training, educating, and supporting dogs and their guardians to create real positive change to their lives.

So the next time you're feeling overwhelmed, remember the starfish story. Remember the power of focusing on the individual in front of you.  Remember that your skills, your compassion, and your dedication can make a world of difference for that one dog and that one guardian.

 Never underestimate the impact you can have. Every single step you take, every training session you lead, every bit of hard earned knowledge you share is a starfish thrown back into the sea.  And that, my friends, is something to be incredibly proud of.

I’ve decided to get a more permanent reminder by having a starfish tattoo!