I got this e-mail this morning and it was too nice to pass up sharing~


One morning, I went out for my daily sunrise walk on the beach. Off in the distance, I could see someone pick something up off the beach, wade a little ways into the ocean and then toss the object into the water.
Then, the person, who appeared to be a small boy, picked up another object and tossed it also into the sea. He continued to do this as I walked. As I approached, I saw that he was picking up starfish. I stopped and asked him why he was doing this. The boy explained that the starfish were stranded and that in another hour or two they would dry up and dies. He was saving their lives.

The innocence of youth, I thought. I told him that there were thousands of starfish on the beach, and he couldn't possibly make a difference. The kid stopped and looked down, as if to study the water that washed over our bare feet. Then He walked over and picked up another starfish, waded into the sea and tossed it in.

"Sir," he said, pointing into the sea. "Yes," I answered. He continued, "It made a difference for that one."

In each and every one of us,
there is something very special.
We have all been gifted with the ability
to make a positive difference.

If we are fortunate enough
to fully accept and acknowledge that gift,
we gain the mana -- the power -- to shape the future.