The Sacred Practice of Doing One Thing Well
When I was younger, my father had a particular ritual. After every grocery trip, after the milk and fruit were tucked into the fridge and the pantry was restocked, he would hand me the grocery bags. And not just casually—he would ask me to fold them. Properly. Neatly. With care.
It wasn’t just a chore. It was a quiet training in presence.
At the time, I didn’t fully understand it. I thought it was about the bags. But now I see—it was about everything.
In a world that constantly pulls us in ten directions, the ability to give our full attention to one task at a time is a blessing.
It’s not always easy. Especially when life is chaotic. I’ve learned firsthand that when family responsibilities, health concerns, or emotional burdens pile up, our ability to stay present can feel like it’s slipping through our fingers. We try. We push. But sometimes it feels like we’re swimming upstream.
And yet…
There is something sacred in the moments when we can focus.
When the noise quiets.
When the phone is down.
When the mind is anchored.
When we give our full energy—not just attention, but presence—to a single act.
Folding bags.
Writing an email.
Cooking a meal.
Sitting with someone we love.
Even petting the dog.
These moments are the foundation of a meaningful life.
🥋Wax On, Bags FoldedÂ
Sometimes I think my dad was a little bit like Mr. Miyagi.
Rake the leaves. Sweep the driveway. Fold the bags.
These weren’t chores. They were invitations.
To pay attention.
To slow down.
To do something simple—but do it well.
When was the last time you saw a kid fold grocery bags, or rake leaves with intention? That kind of presence is disappearing. But it’s exactly the presence many of us now seek through meditation, journaling, coaching, and spiritual practice.
My dad was ahead of his time.
And I’m still learning what he was teaching.
In coaching, I often stress this:
Set morning and night rituals.
Not because it’s trendy. Not because it’s convenient.
But because it’s necessary.
It may feel selfish. It’s not.
This is what self-love really looks like:
Claiming 30 minutes in the morning to center, prepare, and breathe.
Claiming 30 minutes at night to reflect, unwind, and return to yourself.
That’s 1 hour out of 24.
To say, “I matter. My life deserves my full attention.”
We’ve all felt the shift.
The rise of digital urgency. The way the phone ends up on the dinner table.
The way our presence—to ourselves and others—has quietly eroded.
So when you can create moments that are undistracted, unfiltered, unplugged?
That’s magic.
That’s power.
That’s how you remember who you are.
In coaching, we call this intentional presence.
And it’s not about perfection—it’s about respect.
When you focus all of yourself on one thing, you are telling that thing:
You matter. You are worthy of my energy. I am here with you.
That kind of focus rewires the brain.
It sharpens self-trust.
It fuels clarity.
And it allows joy to bloom—sometimes in the most unexpected places.
Even a folded plastic bag.
If you can give yourself to just one thing today, fully, that is a gift.
Not everyone gets that chance.
Some people live their entire lives in fractured focus, split between demands and distractions.
So if the moment comes—if the window opens—take it.
Be excellent. Be present. Be grateful.
Even if it’s just for 30 seconds. Even if it’s just folding a bag.
Because it was never about the bag.
It was always about the presence you brought to it.
