Podcast #282: I Cried Yesterday by Tom Beal

Wasn’t sure if I should share this audio or not, but felt that it may contain an important and inspiring lesson for you, possibly. Would love to hear your feelings and feedback below in a comment. Thank you for listening…

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The Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Make Today Great!
Tom Beal

PS –  After listening to this podcast you can watch the video that I referenced in this podcast here.
Please post your feelings and comments below. I read all, and personally reply to most.

  • Hey Tom, I watched that video and I cried too. I couldn’t help but think about the many homeless people here in Washington DC. Unfortunately, they go unnoticed. I can’t tell you how many amazing people I’ve met simply because I took the time to stop, talk and listen.

    Thanks for sharing brother.

    • tombeal

      Love you Lonnie. We do our part to Make Today Great, one person and one conversation at a time. Does it matter? Does it make a difference? Think this story summarizes that answer best: The Starfish Story

      Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions.

      Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea. The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

      The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”

      The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.”

      The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”

      adapted from The Star Thrower, by Loren Eiseley (1907 – 1977)

      • Love you too brother. The Starfish Story is a beautiful lesson. Thank you so much for sharing.

        Keep being amazing and making a difference! I hope we catch up soon my friend!

        • tombeal

          Yes sir. Ditto! Keep being you. Look forward to catching up soon, as well.

  • Greg Coldicutt

    Very moving indeed Tom, yes I cried too! Thanks for sharing and reminding us to be grateful for the blessings God bestows upon us each day, and to help those less fortunate than ourselves. God bless you Tom, you’re a good man, an excellent role model for your children, and a blessing for those of us that know you.

    • tombeal

      Appreciate your feedback, friendship and kind words, Greg. God bless you! Let’s each do our part to Make Today Great!

  • Juanita Bellavance

    Tom, what moves me is who YOU are for humanity in general at all levels of need. Your kids are very lucky people. Makes my heart melt. And a Marine no less. The toughest and the tenderest all in one. Pretty rare.

    • tombeal

      Thank you for your kind words, Juanita. And thank you for being you!

  • Eric Taylor

    Being Devil’s Advocate, beggars have been putting children in difficult circumstances and even maiming/crippling them for hundreds of years to improve their begging earnings. People who know that might develop a pretty thick skin, even to situations like the freezing child.

    That being said, I hope I would have overcome my cynicism and helped the kid out. Like you say, it all depends on the circumstances at the time and how you read them. Overall, though, good on you, Tom. Maybe I’ll pay a little more attention to beggars or people in distress in the future.

    In this Buddhist country, there’s a widespread belief in helping other people and making merit — which comes back to you as good karma. I guess the English translation would be “what goes around comes around”. Have a great day!

    • tombeal

      Appreciate you and your feedback Eric; all the way from Thailand. Make Today Great!

  • NOOOOO WAY!!! Being a mother of 3 children, I would NOT have been able to walk by and do nothing about it…. I would have definitely made sure that child had warm clothes and boots, etc. If necessary, would have made sure that he had a place to go and food to eat. Even if it WAS a set up to see how people would react…. I STILL could not let a child go unprotected like that!

    • tombeal

      Absolutely! I feel the same way.

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