Getting picked up and thrown from the warm beach into the churning ocean waters sounds turbulent at best. But, in the story, it was the only way to survive as a starfish. Though it's not pleasant and I bet some of the starfish weren't super happy to leave the warm sand, it's important to remember that to stay in the sunshine too long is death if you're a starfish. Those churning waves and changing tides are home. It's not calm and peaceful like the shoreline, but that's where the starfish belong. It's their natural environment and the place they can thrive.
Take from that metaphor what you will. With this last post on this common story, I'd love to hear what conclusions you draw.