I had always taken for granted having the water "on" at home. The possibility of not being able to take a shower, wash my hands, or cook and clean had never really crossed my mind...that is until the water was turned "off." I came home one evening after a long day at work to dry faucets and shower heads. I began to experience a slight panic as I started to realize the role that water played not only in bringing logistical ease to my life but also in maintaining my dignity. My mind began to flood: How was I going to shower for work? How would I brush my teeth? What if I needed to use the toilet? What if my throat was dry in the middle of the night? As the questions and my frustrations increased, the thought occurred to me that I would not be the first person to have to face a day, let alone life, without the presence of clean water. My dilemma could easily be remedied by paying my bill at the postal annex, but what about those around the world who lived this "crisis" everyday? What was their remedy? As I researched issues of water conservation, the relationship between water shortages and famine, the statistics of those with access to clean water vs. those who do not, I began to ponder what it would be like to live this reality. As a woman, how would it feel to not be able to take a shower during the monthly cycle? What was it like to have to bathe, drink, and wash clothes in the same hole frequented by the village livestock? How could I rest easy knowing that the water that filled my child's bottle would make him feel far worse than the thirst he was experiencing? Although I knew my imagining couldn't compare to actually negotiating and living life in that manner, I knew that I wanted to do more than just shake my head and feel pity. I wanted to help. I found Charity: Water. So now here I am giving up my birthday: doing something very small to help solve a very large problem. I have been truly blessed to live 35 years on this earth without a day of severe hunger or thirst, but it would be an utter shame for me to live another 35 years knowing there are brothers and sisters on this same earth who live in suffering, and I did nothing to help. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank you for celebrating my birthday with me and helping others to live and thrive with the simple, yet powerful, gift of fresh water.

Love and blessings,

Jasmine