Alternative Living

  Solutions

 

Alternative Living Solutions

is a

501 C 3

non-profit program

 

_{committed to developing innovative}

_{programming that challenges and enhances community supports}

_{for the youth and families we serve.}

 

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The StarThrower

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a young lady at the ocean shore, I saw a silver-haired

woman dancing oddly on the beach just

before sunrise.  She would bend, and twist, and lunge

as she pranced to the thunderous surf as if it were

some kind of imaginary drum. 

 

When I got closer, I noticed that she was picking things up

and throwing them into the sea.  I approached her

silently, not wanting to disturb her sacred dance.  I

watched intently as she stooped to hold one of the many

starfish that had washed in with the tide. 

 

She then moved gracefully as she tossed the sand bound

creature back to the sea.  I moved cautiously closer, and I

asked the woman,  "Why the effort?" of giving so few

another chance.  What did it matter because there were

so many more starfish than she could handle. 

 

She looked directly at me, the reflection of the ocean, the

rising sun, and me in her deep, yet bright brown eyes.

She smiled and spoke with a soft, yet powerful reserve,

"It matters to this one.", and she ceremoniously gave

the starfish back to the sea.

 

The work we do as counselors is similar

in that, of the number of youth who wash up onto

society’s shores, a small percentage of those youth need

our special care.

 

And it is upon us, the StarThrowers, who can mean

something special to those students we impact in our programs.

Let it be your commitment to the youth and to your colleagues,

that we teach one another how to be StarThrowers in our careers.

 

The story above evolved many years ago, and I am still

the StarThrower I discovered that fateful day.  I have had

the chance to dance with other fine StarThrowers since.

 

There is a StarThrower in all of us when we enter

the helping profession.  So prepare to join

in the dance with other great StarThrowers at ALS

  

Original by Loren Eiseley 1978

Edited by JPB/DSB 5-3-07