So for those of you that don't already know, I've decided to participate in Blood:Water Mission's 40 Days of Water from now until Easter Sunday. 40 Days of Water is a campaign where people give up drinking all liquids except tap water, but keep track of the money that they would have spent on other drinks. At the end of the 40 days, all the money that they would have spent on those drinks is instead donated to Africa, where wells can be built to provide safe drinking water for people where it's a 12-hour commitment a week just to find safe drinking water.
If you know me, you know that I drink Diet Coke like it's my job, so this is definitely one of the hardest things I could have have given up. But I decided that it was a great cause and would do me a lot of good for my own health. So I went for it.
The first few days were hard. I woke up that morning wanting my pick-me-up Diet Coke or big glass of chocolate milk. But instead I went down the hall to the water fountain. After my first boring class, I wanted to stop by the vending machine like I always do and grab a Diet Coke to help me stay awake. But instead I just filled up my water bottle one more time.
By the third day, it really wasn't a burden anymore. Yeah, whenever I was feeling a little less energetic, I'd pass a vending machine and hearing it quietly calling my name. But all in all, it wasn't nearly as bad as the first two days.
Sunday came around, and I decided to follow the calendar that allows you to have Sundays "off." As I dug into my math homework, I popped open a can of Diet Coke and at long last felt the sweet syrup running down my throat.
The funny thing was that after that first drink, I really just wanted my water bottle back. After drinking water for four days, anything less just didn't feel right. I felt cheated. I felt like I was abusing my body by ingesting such a sick liquid.
A week ago, I never would have said "man, I'd much rather have water than a Diet Coke." I'd gag at the thought of drinking water all day. But after being away from it, I'm starting to realize that my caffeine-hyped brain has been deceived for the last God-knows-how-long.
This got me thinking: what else is there that I think I can't live without, but would really be better off without? What else am I capable of doing that I have no idea I can accomplish?
What else is out there?
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3 comments:
It's so weird because I too will get little cravings for a pop sometimes. But now that I've gone almost two months without it, I crave water whenever I'm thirsty. I've even bought juice in case I get tired of water ... which is what I drank a lot more in the beginning, but now it's all about the water.
Isn't it neat to watch our tastes change? I don't even know that I'll ever go back to drinking pop again.
thanks for joining us for 40 Days of Water! we are encouraged by the small sacrifices and life changes so many people are enduring to make a big difference in the lives of our friends in Africa. Thank you for sharing your story!
Mike Lenda
US Programs Director
Blood:Water Mission
I'm having that "what next" mentality too! I struggled at the beginning... (in my case my warm thermos of coffee in the morning... and then another mid morning... and then another after lunch.... ) and now I find my friends saying, "how's your water"... but, it doesn't phase me, I don't feel like there's really another option anymore... it started out as this what seamed impossible challenge, and now, I'm thinking, I got this, what NOW?... WHAT NEXT! I'M READY!
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