Refill The Water Filter

I, like many others, don't trust my tap water. Specifically, I don't trust the pipes in my apartment building to keep my water clean, so I drink from a Brita filter.

When I go to fill my water bottle, there's often a predictable pattern I'll go through:

• Be annoyed because there's no water and look for someone to blame
• Realize it's my own damn fault and pour more water in the filter
• Get distracted while waiting for the water to filter through into the tank
• Tell myself I'll return when the water is done filtering and forget to come back
• My water bottle stays empty, and I don't hydrate until my voice cracks

All of this to say - I should probably invest in a water filter that screws right into the tap.

There's a cliche metaphor on self-care I've been meditating on lately: fill your cup first and let others benefit from the overflow. The gist of this is that we need to be in a healthy place ourselves so that we can adequately contribute, care, and show up for others.

And this is true! One of the things I constantly keep at the forefront of my mind, both in my writing here and in real life, is that what's inside us has to come first. Making sure I'm energized and enthusiastic - aka filling my cup - has to be a priority because otherwise, my throat will be dry, my voice will be raspy, and whatever I say will sound like nails on a chalkboard. If I don't fill my cup, I won't be able to do what I want to do: show up for others in meaningful ways.

But what happens if there's no water in the water filter? If the place I go to fill my cup is empty and is no longer capable of quenching my thirst? What do I do? With a water filter, the solution is simple: refill the water filter. Speaking metaphorically, the answer becomes a bit more complicated.

There are a few lessons I've taken away from thinking about my water filter.

First, I can't blame anyone else for my thirst. No one is able to sense if I'm dehydrated better than I can and no one else can drink for me, either. I need to actively take responsibility for my own wellbeing - and expecting others to do this is foolish.

Second, I should get a water filter that screw right into the tap. Translating that metaphor to practical life, I need to put myself in situations where filling my cup is easy. Life is already hard enough - I shouldn't actively be trying to make it harder. Rather, I should make filtered water - the things that make me happy and satisfied - as accessible as possible, and that requires consciously arranging my external reality.

Lastly, I need to be enthusiastic, determined, and patient. Even if the filter doesn't take that long, it will still take some time for the water to hydrate my body after I've taken a drink. I shouldn't lose hope in the water's ability to rejuvenate me, and to stop drinking water in entirety because I forgot to drink anything yesterday would be silly.

On a personal note, these reflections have sparked some deep contemplation on what I need to do in order fill my cup. If I were to write about these reflections and didn't put them into practice, it would certainly reflect poorly on me. To that end, I'll be traveling the world for the next few months, but always reachable on the usual channels. I also wanted to express gratitude for all of you who have replied or reached out with comments, kudos, or criticisms - any thoughts are always appreciated.