Make a difference. Just one. #youredustory

I find inspiration in quotes and stories and I could read them forever. Words are powerful-- even just a few. I have a dream. 

So simple. 

So few words touch so many people. 

Words can make a difference. 

But can I? 

How will I make the world a better place? I feel so small in the world. 

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As a school leader I have the opportunity to talk with so many people each day- kids, parents, teachers, and more. I love being in classrooms and watching kids fall in love with learning. I love the fun of recess and the joy of children skipping in the hall or dancing. 

I also love the kids who are crying. Who don't want to come out from under the table. Who put their heads down and won't say anything. In that moment, they aren't in love with learning. They aren't in love with anything. They are angry, frustrated, quiet, and loud. 

When I was in the classroom, I wanted them to be in my class. Now, I am so thankful they are at my school. Every single day.

I don't know if I can make a difference. But I want to try. 

What if we all made a difference to just one child every day? 

Every day I will try. 

The Starfish Story

A young man is walking along the ocean and sees a beach on which thousands and thousands of starfish have washed ashore. Further along he sees an old man, walking slowly and stooping often, picking up one starfish after another and tossing each one gently into the ocean.

“Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?,” he asks.

“Because the sun is up and the tide is going out and if I don’t throw them further in they will die.”

“But, old man, don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it! You can’t possibly save them all, you can’t even save one-tenth of them. In fact, even if you work all day, your efforts won’t make any difference at all.”

The old man listened calmly and then bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the sea. 

“It made a difference to that one.”

~Loren Eisley