The child and the starfish: a legend to be inspired by

The child and the starfish: a legend to be inspired by

The child and the starfish: a legend to be inspired by

Last update: 10 September, 2017

There are many studies in which we have tried to establish what the great men and great women who inspired humanity have in common. Everything seems to indicate that the determining virtue is perseverance. Many of the greatest achievements represent lessons in persistence and struggle against adversity.

Perseverance is a complex virtue, almost a gift. When it is authentic, it increases tenacity and willpower in the face of difficulties and obstacles. To maintain this iron will in the face of adversity, it is necessary to know what you want, where you want to go and for what reason. It is usually the result of a process of reflection and character building.



"The art of overcoming great difficulties is studied and acquired with the habit of facing small ones"

-Cristina Trivulzio of Belgioioso-

Anyone who thinks that big companies are right from the start are wrong. In general, everything begins with a small seed that is watered, grows and embarks on its own path of growth. The legend of the child and the starfish explains just that, in a simple way.

A legend to be inspired by

Once upon a time there was a man who lived near the beach. Every day he woke up and started the day by taking a walk on the sand. One day he was very surprised at what he stumbled upon in his morning escape. There were hundreds of starfish scattered all over the shore. It was definitely odd. Perhaps the culprits of this phenomenon were the bad weather or the November winds.

The man was sorry for the situation. He knew that starfish could not live more than five minutes out of the water. All these creatures would have died in a short while, if they hadn't already died as he passed by. "How sad!" He thought. However, he had no idea.



Going on a little, he saw a boy running across the beach. Everything was rough and sweaty. "What are you doing?" Asked the man. "I'm returning the stars to the sea"replied the boy, who was clearly already fatigued.

The man paused for a moment to think. What the child was doing seemed absurd to him. He couldn't resist and said what he thought. “What you do is useless. I've come a long way and there are thousands of stars. It doesn't make sense what you do, ”she told him. The child, who was holding a starfish in his hand, replied: “Ah! For this one, it makes sense! "

Small actions, great achievements

The legend of the child and the starfish shows us the value of small actions. Sometimes we fail to see what modest shares are worth. This is because we are not orienting our behavior towards values, but towards results. It is as if we see the world in terms of quantity and size, but not of meaning and essence.

All great gestures begin with small actions, it is unusual for a journey to begin with great strides. The beginnings, in fact, are usually difficult and tiring, and those who do not learn to give meaning to a flower will hardly understand the meaning of nature.

Furthermore, those who take the value of a small sacrifice for granted will hardly know how to give meaning to the effort. Character tends to strengthen with small limits and discreet disciplines. The first big obstacle to big dreams are the little skepticisms on the part of those around us. Giving meaning to the little things is a way of life that can inspire others.


Perseverance comes above all from values. It is necessary to have great conviction to resist the difficulties and setbacks that arise when you set yourself a courageous goal. The worst part is that many times we allow ourselves to be pervaded by a totalitarian thought. It is the thought that tells us that if there is "everything", then there is "nothing". This mindset is itself a poison for motivation.


If we tie our big dreams and aspirations to human values, it will be much easier to find the strength needed to move forward. Conversely, if we only focus on immediate results, we will likely be overwhelmed with frustration. Great cathedrals are built one stone at a time. The legend of the child and the starfish tells us that even small cases have meaning, and it is certainly worth learning to see life in these terms.


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