today’s

Wylde Women’s Wisdom

The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. Alice Walker

I did a good post on personal power back in 2012.  You probably don’t remember it.  I didn’t.  So here it is in its entirety because it’s  perfect for Wylde Women’s Wisdom day 5 of 367.  And sadly, even the opening lines work still work far too well for the divided states of America.

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It’s hard not to feel defeated and ineffective when you look at the state of the world and the state of the country – the division and, yes, hate that it swirling all around us and hyped regularly by the media.

I was reminded of the starfish story and thought I’d remind everyone else about it while we’re in the midst of  political bombardment from just about every media source out there.  I’m sure you’ve heard this little inspirational tale, but just in case, here’s a quick recap:

A young girl was walking along the beach early one morning. The tide was receding, leaving numerous starfish stranded on the beach. The girl began picking them up and tossing them back into the water.

Engrossed in her task, she didn’t notice the crusty old fisherman sitting quietly watching her. He startled her with a gruff, “What are you doing?” to which she smiled and enthusiastically replied, “I’m saving the starfish.”

The girl stopped, momentarily pondering his words. Then she picked up a starfish and threw it far into the water. She stood straight and looked him in the eye. “It matters to that one,” she said, and continued down the beach.

This is the power of one.  This is Personal Power showing up and taking a stand.

Remember this story the next time you get overwhelmed with all the situations in the world.  You may not have power to change them all, or even a big one.  But there are ones closer to home that you can change if you choose to see that you can and decide to take some small action.

Even one small action can have ripples.  As a matter of fact, every small act makes ripples.  And even though you may never see them touch the shore of change,  you may well have made a difference that only you, right now, could choose to make.  Your one little action may inspire someone else, who then starts savings starfish on her section of the beach.   You just never know.

Every decision you make – every decision – is not a decision about what to do.  It’s a decision about who you are.  Neale Donald Walsh  

Who are you?  And how do you see the world?