Starfish

The starfish is a big deal to me and my family. Have you ever read the story? I found one of the many versions of it and copy and pasted it here. The original story was written by Loren Eiseley and has been adapted over the years. 

adapted from The Star Thrower
by Loren Eiseley (1907 – 1977)

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “It made a difference for that one.”

I had been blessed to spend summer days by the ocean in Connecticut with my Grandma Jackie and family. I have always felt such a strong connection to the sea. This starfish story has inspired all of us in some way and it became our thing. I wear Starfish jewelry all the time-gifts from my Grandmother. 

A Starfish is a symbol for perseverance, healing, and regeneration.

Some other fun symbolism definitions I found online:

"The Starfish has been used to represent the Virgin Mary (Stella Maris which means Star of the Sea) who creates safe travel over troubled waters and is also seen as an emblem of salvation during trying times. The Starfish can also be seen as celestial symbol and as such, represents infinite divine love. In addition to love, the Starfish also holds characteristics such as guidance, vigilance, inspiration, brilliance and intuition."

My Mom is a nurse and also teaches in the profession and I went into the travel industry and serve humanitarian missionaries. Not surprising how much this sea creature has influenced our lives. 

Back in my college days we did a lot of still life studies. I chose to paint a starfish, shocking right? This is an oil pastel piece. The original artwork has hung in my mother's dining room and now is in my hallway. There will be more starfish in the future because I need reminders...

to make a difference today.