I've been feeling very blessed lately as my "souporters" pledge their cans for my weight loss. What started as a small mission to help others while keeping me motivated along the way is blossoming into love and support (er, souport?) from not only friends & family, but strangers!
Within 5 minutes of sending out my request for "sponsors" I heard from the Chairman of the Board from my company, telling me he'd be my (1st) soup sponsor. Many similar emails followed suit from friends, family, colleagues. Facebook friends from near and far (Maryland! Michigan! New York! California!) also souported me. At the salon today I shared my upcoming Biggest Loser Adventure with the aesthetician. We talked about diets and such, and when she went to leave, she asked me to forward my blog and said "I'm in" regarding the soup donation. Blessed!
So when I was wondering how much of a dent I could actually make in raising soup for local (and not so local!) food banks, I realize now it just might be a noticeable one (almost as noticeable as the hit and run dent my car got at Sam's Club last week, but that's a different story).
At my Hampton Brand Conference earlier this year, the Global Head of Focus Service Brands at Hilton talked about the "power of one." He shared the story of the boy and the starfish with us:
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 boy, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The boy 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 boy 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 boy 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 boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "I made a difference to that one!"
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 boy, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The boy 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 boy 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 boy 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 boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "I made a difference to that one!"
Love this story! I started this Biggest Loser journey thinking "Ok, worst case scenario, I lose 2 or 3 pounds." Now, there is no worst case scenario...because those 2 or 3 pounds will translate into possibly hundreds of hot meals for hungry bellies, and that is quite alright with me!
Yay! I am so excited to get to Malibu, lose weight and gain confidence while knowing that some grocery aisles across the country may be a bit low on chicken noodle soup when I get back. (-:
The power of many starts with the power of one...and together we can "make a difference to that one."
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