If you have ever doubted the power of one, it’s time to reconsider. One cannot only make a difference, it can make the difference.

Consider Kathy, a past audience member of mine who told me that when she was a young child she played piano. One day at a reception after a piano recital, she was pouring tea for a gentleman who said to her, "I hope you pour tea better than you play piano."

Young and impressionable, Kathy was devastated. She took this information to heart and never played in public again, until she decided to let this one hurtful statement go and finally played in public five decades later.

 One of anything has the potential to make a huge impact-good or bad.

In our community papers we often highlight people whose one idea has taken flight, whose one passion has fuelled positive change or one cause worth taking a stand for.

Think about some ‘ones’ in your world, perhaps one fear you overcame, one person who made a positive difference in your life, one idea you acted on that started a shift in your thinking.

Here are some ideas of one that, if implemented, could significantly increase your quality of life.

• Take one minute per hour to close your eyes refocus and reenergize your self.

• Use 1% of your day for your own personal growth, that’s about 14 minutes.

• Every month, write a thank you note to one person who has helped you on your journey of life.

• Pull one tip out of every magazine/journal you read.

• Pick one course/activity and try it before your next birthday.

• Ask one new colleague to share your break with you.

• Give one chocolate bar to the gas jockey.

• Use one commercial to do an exercise.

• Let one old, limiting belief go.

• Go one day without looking in the mirror (or something else that you do regularly).

• Plan one weekend this year to go away with a friend/loved one, just for fun.

In this world there is no shortage of ideas, but what seems to happen is that when we are overwhelmed with too much information, we freeze and don’t do anything. Just pick one little, itty-bitty thing to do and DO it!

One thing matters.

Stephanie Staples is a St. Vital-based writer and motivational speaker and life coach. For more information about her company please visit www.yourlifeunlimited.ca.

Neighbourhood Forum is a readers’ column. If you live in The Lance area and would like to contribute to this column, contact jim.timlick@canstarnews.com.