We Are Star Throwers.

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Becoming a nurse is not simply that, it is evolving into a full bodied advocate for the health and wellness of all humanity. Since a young age, I developed a keen perception for the care of other people and their surroundings.Whether I was the grounding stone of family conflict, rescuing snails from the desert heat, or saving a fallen flower bud, I had a purpose.Without consciously deciding it, I had already expressed the infant quirks of being a 'nurse' through out childhood.

Once I matured into adolescence I soon realized that my personality trait of 'humanitarian' resonated a much deeper and soul satisfying destiny of healing. From gaining more experience into the big pool of life,the layers of what would push me to become a nurse unraveled. I began witnessing the realism of suffering within the world, within my own backyard. Regardless of class, age, gender, or upbringing, we all will encounter tragedy or trauma that will land us in the presence of a health care professional; and I wanted to be that professional. The thought of "I want to be a hero in the strife of one persons' worst day ever, every day..." flickered through my mind often. Upon graduating from high school, I made it my life's mission to not only become a nurse, but to craft my self into warrior so that I can have the strength to touch others. With persistence of a dream in tow, I successfully completed all my classes to be given the opportunity of student nurse, now here I am.

I do not know yet, what it is to be a nurse, but I firmly believe that I am on a journey to unveil the beautiful artistry of this field. Every experience onward will expand my ability to heal the sick and ultimately unlock a new sense of meaning and being within my own life; through selfless action we discover hidden avenues of light within ourselves. A nurses' aptitude for restoring health are transcendental skills, beginning with curing physical ailments, and ending with resonating a greater sense of spiritual vitality to the patient.

Living within a world that is bombarded with messages of despair, suffering, negativity, weakness,and self-destruction it becomes almost pseudo-natural to feel defeated rather than motivated to become the candle holder for all the people whom need our help. However, through adversity there is always one simple story I keep in mind, "The Starfish Story",this story pertains directly to nursing care, and spreads all throughout life, bringing with it the message that what we do does make a difference; we behold the power to change circumstances, and to ignite positive impact. Times of vulnerability and distress become the ultimate tests within life, including nursing, but for what is first seen as an ordeal can easily be turned into an opportunity once we take the steps of courage forward. "The Starfish Story" is a quiet yet foundational memorandum of integrity and perseverance that will be carried forward within me throughout nursing practice:

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, so he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young girl, and that what she was doing was not dancing at all. The young girl 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 young girl 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 young girl 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 girl, 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!"

As if she hadn't heard, the young girl bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, she turned, smiled and said,

"It made a difference to that one!"

- Adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley

lyly, BSN, RN · May 5, 2013

Beautiful0 Thank you for the inspiring article. :)

We Are Star Throwers.

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