Doing Good One Turtle at a Time

Quote of the day:  “I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”  ~Edward Everett Hale

Tiger Lily at Norenberg Garden

Yesterday as I was going to the farmer’s market I noticed a painted turtle slowly crossing the street. I thought about stopping to make sure the turtle made it across the street safely, but there were no other cars in sight and I didn’t stop. As I sat at the next stop light I looked in the rear view mirror and noticed that the turtle had still not made it across the road and now a big SUV was approaching. I kicked myself for not stopping and seeing the little guy safely across the street.

Then I noticed that the man driving the SUV also noticed the turtle. He stopped. He turned his vehicle’s hazard lights on and he got out and carefully shoo’d the turtle safely to the other side of the street. I was delighted to see the Good Samaritan stop to ensure the turtle’s safety and  disappointed with myself because I had not taken the time and effort to do the same. That man inspired me to do better, to do the small things I can do to make a positive difference.

Remember the starfish story?

The story describes the narrator walking along the beach early one morning in the pre-dawn twilight, when he sees a boy picking up a starfish off the sand and throwing it into the sea. Each time the boy comes to a starfish, he picks it up and throws it back into the ocean.

The watcher asks, “Why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”

The boy ponders this for awhile and then bends to pick up another starfish and hurl it back into the ocean, “Well, I made a difference to that one!”

One little mushroom amongst the grass and trees

Tiger Lily

More tiger lilies

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