# 195 Lessons from a Sand Dollar

"When you do a thing, do it with all your might.  Put your whole soul into it.  Stamp it with your personality.  Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful and you will accomplish your object."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

19th Century American Writer

My friend, Barbara, and I were out walking my dog when I worried aloud about my goal to raise money for metastatic breast cancer seems like such a paltry amount and wondered if it truly will  make a difference. There are limited funds for all the ailments in the world and my swimming and roaring about MBC is not even a trickle in the waters of life. The wise woman that she is suggested rereading the story of the sand dollar.  I did and it set me back on track of my mission and will follow Mr. Emerson's advice to keep active and enthusiastic because it will make a difference to someone.

The Story of the Sand Dollar ~ Making a Difference

An old man was strolling along a beach one day. In the distance he saw a young boy and girl reach down, pick something up and throw it back into the sea.

Drawing nearer, he saw that the sand was littered with thousands of small stranded sand dollars. The children were patiently picking them up, one at a time, and returning them to safety below the water.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Saving sand dollars," replied the children as they continued about the job at hand.

The old man, somewhat jaded by age, thought the children's actions were futile.

"But the beach is littered with dying sand dollars. What possible difference can you make by doing this?"

The young girl bent over, picked up another, and threw it with all her might. With a plop the sand dollar sank safely below the water. Then, turning to the old man, she said with all the wisdom of a child:

"I made a difference for that one."

http://patsyspocketsofpeace.blogspot.com/2012/02/story-of-sand-dollar.html

Thanks for reading # 195 of 7777.