2 Liters a Day

There's a girl in my office who I oftentimes see carrying a large, personal, pitcher of water. I never learned her name but after a few days of people watching I discovered four key facts. She has great skin, she looks kind, she owns an assortment of cool shoes, and, most importantly - she and her water pitcher are one. Never separated or seen without the other. They glide around the office in pristine hydrated harmony. 

Our daily routine, which she’s blissfully unaware of, goes as follows: 

I - sit at my desk going through a to-do list. 

She - passes me holding said water pitcher, and heads to her corner of the office. 

I – marvel in awe behind my laptop screen.

We don’t speak or exchange pleasantries. Not even a quick hello, or question about the others weekend. I’m not sure we’ve even fully made eye contact, but I kind of like it that way. People watching is only fun when you know absolutely nothing about the person in question. The mystery of it all is what allows the mind to conjure up assumptions and questions about the others lives. For example:

1.    How is she casually holding that with one hand? Was she ever a waitress? Maybe she moonlights as a bar-tender somewhere in Manhattan.

2.     Does anyone else notice that she hasn't spilled. Not even once. Am I the only one who cares?  

3.     Maybe her arms aren’t even tired. Maybe she works out. I should work out too. I haven’t been to the gym in weeks. 

4.     How does she drink that much water in one morning? Does she only drink water? Maybe it’s for some sort of desk plant. That’s so cool. 

a.     Update – no desk plant, still very cool though.

5.     Does this office even have those in the kitchen? Did she bring that in herself? Bold move. 

Since observing water pitcher girl, I too have decided to be more conscious of my water consumption. Rather than transitioning from my morning coffee straight to an afternoon coke, I’ve added some good old H2O in between. So far I think I have vertigo (unrelated), but I’ve also joined the clear pee gang, noticed even skin (despite the whole vertigo thing), and feel generally less jittery. 

I know the importance of drinking water isn’t a revolutionary discovery, and I didn’t need water pitcher girl to exemplify its importance. But she did, and that’s exactly what I love about strangers. The people around us almost always have something to share, even if they don’t know it. 

And for that I’ve decided to share my gratitude online. I could do it in person, but her desk really is on the opposite side of the room, and I can’t think of a non-weird way to say you appreciate someone else’s water intake. 

p.s – Water pitcher girl, if you ever read this, keep up the good work. You’re an inspiration to us all. 

p.p.s – Sorry for making you my people watching target. Double sorry if you noticed. But! Congrats on the cool shoes and impeccable arm strength that caught my attention.