Making a Difference

During my working career I have always gone out of my way to try and help others, I have worked in many Government Departments and have enjoyed my work immensely often working long hours and under a great deal of pressure, but always feeling I had done a good job.

On one particular day I attended a Team meeting and was presented with a plaque from my Manager and Peers 'Making a Difference'. I was very humbled by this mark of appreciation for my work and efforts in helping others to be the best they could be. This has stayed with me to this day in that I would gladly go out of my way to help and assist wherever it is needed.

A guy used to go for a jog around a park. By the park there was a lake. Each time he went for a jog on a Sunday, he used to see an elderly woman sitting by the lakeside with a small metal cage beside her.

The guy was curious to see what she was doing there. So one Sunday he bucked up the courage and walked over to the woman. As he reached her, he realized that the small cage he used to see was actually a small trap.

Inside, there were three turtles who were slowly walking on the base of the trap and one turtle was in the lap of the elderly woman. She was carefully washing it's shell with a spongey brush.

The guy said to the women, “Hello, I see you every Sunday morning. If you don't mind I would love to know what you are doing with these turtles.”

She smiled and said “I am cleaning off their shells. As anything on a turtle's shell like algae, reduces the turtle's ability to absorb heat and also slows it's swim speed. This algae also weakens their shell over time.”

“Wow!, really nice of you!” the guy replied with a smile.

The woman continued and said “Every Sunday I come here and spend hours relaxing by the lake helping these little guys out. It is my way to make a difference.

Further, the guy questioned “But don't most turtles live their whole life with algae.”

The woman replied “Yes, sadly they do.”

The guy got a bit confused and asked, “Well then, don't you think your time could be better spent? I mean your efforts are all kind but there are turtles living in lakes all around the world and 99 percent have no one to clean their shell. So, how come you are truly making a difference.”

The woman smiled and looked down at the turtle in her lap and said, “ Dear, if this little turtle could speak he would tell you I just made all the difference.”

You can bring change in the world even if it is not a big one. We should do whatever we can to help others. Even a small help in someone's life can make a big difference.

Can you 'Make a Difference' today in someone's life?