Sometimes we underestimate the power of one small action.
As a coach, HR professional, and woman navigating both visible and invisible challenges, I’ve come to believe deeply in the quiet, often unseen work of helping one person at a time—one conversation, one insight, one turning point.
There are days I wonder:
Is it enough? Does this small moment matter?
And then I’m reminded of a story that always re-centers me. A story about starfish—and the sacred truth that making a difference in just one life is not only enough, it’s everything.
The Starfish Story
One quiet morning, as the tide began to roll out, an elderly man walked along the shoreline, taking in the stillness of the sea. In the distance, he noticed a young child moving back and forth between the waves and the sand, bending down and appearing to throw something into the water.
Curious, the man continued walking, slowly making his way closer.
As he neared, he saw that the beach was scattered with thousands of starfish, washed ashore by the night’s high tide. The child was gently picking them up one by one and tossing them back into the ocean.
With a kind smile, the man said,
“My dear child, what are you doing?”
The child paused, looked up, and said softly,
“I’m saving the starfish.”
The man shook his head gently and replied,
“There are thousands of them… the beach stretches for miles. You’ll never make a difference.”
The child considered his words, then bent down, picked up another starfish, and tossed it into the sea.
With quiet confidence, the child replied,
“I can see why one might think that… but it made a difference for that one.”
As I continue to grow my coaching practice and step into new spaces of advocacy—especially around disability inclusion and leadership development—I carry this story with me like a compass.
One person at a time.
One life at a time.
One ripple at a time.
Justice, hope, and healing often begin quietly.
Your Turn
Take a moment to reflect or share:
– Who’s the one person who made a difference in your life?
– Or—what’s one small act you’ve done recently that you hope mattered?
Let’s keep going. Let’s keep lifting. Because it always matters.
