The lifeblood of our daily lives

  When it’s time to write, my face lights up with a smile, and my mood turns excited. Take a deep breath with me, exhale the stress of the day, and let’s unwind together. Nice to have you here again!

Have you ever imagined what life would be like without water, H2O in its chemical name? Water, they say, "e no get enemy" in Pidgin. It takes any and every form, fitting in perfectly. Water is the origin of life itself, the liquid of all liquids.

Today, I am grateful for water in all its forms: spring, river, tap, well, borewell, and every form it takes. The reward of water is greater than any other charity. Did you know the body contains 60% water? That's right, we’re all just fancy water balloons!

What is water, you ask? It's a transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid, a compound of hydrogen and oxygen (H2O), freezing at 32°F (0°C) and boiling at 212°F (100°C). In its various forms, it constitutes rain, oceans, lakes, rivers, and more. For the non-science students out there, lol 😆, water exists as a liquid, solid (snow and ice), groundwater, and atmospheric water (clouds and vapor). Water is like the ultimate shape-shifter, always ready for a new role!

Here’s a fun fact: It's called a borewell, not a borehole as we often say in some parts of Nigeria. John Wilkinson invented the borewell in 1774. He created a boring machine that supported the cutting tool on both ends, unlike the cantilevered borers of the time. Talk about ground breaking work – literally!

I am grateful for clean water and the availability of borewells. Some villages require long journeys to streams or springs for water. In some places, even accessing borewells is tough due to the land's nature. Imagine trekking miles for water – you'd get your workout and hydration plan all in one trip!

I am grateful for water because it helps me stay fresh. My toilet stays clean and fresh, thanks to water. I wash my toilet almost every day because I can’t stand foul smells or dirty bathrooms. Imagine not having water to use the toilet I’m sure you don’t want to imagine it. Once, we had no water for three or days. I was so pressed one day that I had to Uber to a friend's place. Buying water during that time was super expensive. It was like paying luxury prices for a basic necessity talk about high maintenance!

I am grateful that I can wash my clothes thoroughly, even when I hired someone to wash them, I always ensure there's plenty of water. I am grateful I can bathe at least thrice a day. Cooking is easier with water, and I am thankful for the various drinks we make with it, like kunu aya (tigernut drink), kunu (millet drink), and zobo drink. Without water, my favorite beverages would just be sad, dry powders.

I am immensely grateful for borewells and their inventor, which help us access water easily. Share your gratitude for water. Let’s go!