You Are a Star! Let Your Light Shine

Starfish is the common name for Sea stars.  Sea stars are not fish. They do not have gills, scales or fins.  Sea stars are invertebrates related to sea urchins, sea cucumbers and sand dollars.  These are all echinoderms meaning they have spiny skin.  Their hard, calcified skin helps to protect them from predators.

Sea stars live only in saltwater and the sea water instead of blood, is pumped through their bodies via a water vascular system.  Sea stars get nutrients from the sea water. Sea stars have rows of tiny tube feet extending from the surface on their underside. They have a beak that looks like a parrot’s beak which they use for eating. Starfish or Sea stars are able to regrow their arms if they are removed.  Sea stars are also able to change colour depending on their surroundings.

Starfish are not poisonous at all and their spikes can’t hurt you unless it pierces your skin.  You shouldn’t touch or remove a starfish from the water, as this could cause them to suffocate since they need the oxygen they absorb from the water. It is rare to see starfish out of the sea because they use the water for oxygen and to move around.  They can walk on rocks, sand and mud using their tube feet on the bottom of each arm.  If you see these tiny tentacles moving, then the sea star is definitely alive.

Sea stars like to feed on mollusks found in shallow water. When strong currents pass through these habitats during a storm, the sea stars can be lifted away from their meal and carried to shore.  If you see a sea star washed up on the beach, just throw them back in the ocean.  They may have some slight movement, even if they don’t seem alive.  

These are the sayings found on the bookmark called Advice from a Starfish.

• Sea-ze the Day

• Share Your Amazing Beauty

• Put Yourself Out There

• Stay in Touch with Your Neighbours

• Hang Tight Through the Changing Tides

• When Things Get Rocky, Find Your Sweet Spot

• You’ll Always be a Star!

My comments about each of these sayings.

• Sea-ze the Day - Carpe diem - focus on the present and appreciate every moment in life. 

• Share Your Amazing Beauty - Everything has beauty and we need to share it with others.

• Put Yourself Out There - Be open and honest about who you are and tell others how you feel. 

• Stay in Touch with Your Neighbours - Are you a good neighbour? Introduce yourself to someone nearby and help each other out in tough situations. Good neighbours are friendly. 

• Hang Tight Through the Changing Tides - Don’t give up even when things don’t always go as planned.

• When Things Get Rocky, Find Your Sweet Spot - Focus on your strengths and share your skills and interests with others. This will keep you motivated and happy.

• You’ll Always be a Star! - You are a star.  Let your light shine. 

Let your light shine and brighten up someone’s day!  

# living life abundantly   # published author   # travelling tuesdays