Editor's note: This post is part of a series by Dr. Baker on Our Values about core American values. This week Dr. Baker is discussing the importance of "one thing."

“Do you know what the secret of life is?” asks Curly, the grizzled cowboy played by Jack Palance in the movie "City Slickers."

Then, he holds up a finger. “This.”

“Your finger?” asks Mitch. In the throes of a mid-life crisis, Mitch (Billy Crystal) and his buddies came out West to sort things out.

“One thing. Just one thing,” answers Curly. “You stick to that and the rest don’t mean s-t.”

“But, what is the ‘one thing’?”

Curly smiles, saying, “That’s what you have to find out.”

Is there one thing that could — or has — changed your life in an instant? You could find yourself facing a diagnosis as serious as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. In the story I reported on Friday, that seemingly devastating moment transformed one family’s life in a dramatic way. Their “one thing” ignited a huge wave of compassion and creativity, including the just-released documentary, :One Step Ahead."

This week, I’ll tell you about people who are searching for “one thing.” I hope you’ll take a moment to add a comment and tell us: What “one thing” have you encountered? Or, tell us: Where do you look to try to find such “one thing” inspiration?

I’ll start: Here’s “one thing” from my life. My wife and I were expecting a child to be born in January 2002. On September 11 2001, I realized that he was going to be born into an entirely different world from the one I was born into. He’s 11 now, and knows far more about the world’s dangers than I did at the same age.

Where do I look for “one thing”? I often look for such ideas online. Until this past weekend, I had never seen the amazing little Paper Towel video. Now, I can’t wash my hands without thinking: Shake. Fold. Have you seen this short film from a TEDx conference? I dare you to watch the Paper Towel video and not have it change your life. Heather Jose in the Caregivers department of ReadTheSpirit is showing and discussing this famous video today.

But, please don’t forget! Other readers enjoy seeing your comments. I answered today’s two questions. Now it’s your turn:

What “one thing” have you encountered?

Where do you look to try to find such “one thing” inspiration?

Wayne Baker is a sociologist on the faculty of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Baker blogs daily at Our Values and can be reached at ourvaluesproject@gmail.com or on Facebook.