weird coincidence

i never heard the story below until this friday morning, july 25, when i attended the Breathe Well Initiative organization launch. its an organization which seeks to "provide information- -through creative and unconventional means--to enable the public to form an informed and rational decision about smoking"(for more details, check out their multiply site: http://breathewell.multiply.com/).

the weird coincidence is, i received an email on the same day from a different person which contains the story i just heard earlier. its substantially the same. its the same story only that there were different minor details, but its still the same. i just found it weird because ive never heard the story my entire life and then i get to hear and read it on the same day from different sources.

the story im talking about is reposted below:

THE STARFISH

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 he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"
The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean." "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?" "The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I don't throw them in they'll die." "But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach, and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"
The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one."

There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference, and if we can become aware of that gift, we gain through the strength of our visions the power to shape the future.

We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our stars wisely and well, the world will be blessed.