Smooth, sleek, silver. With little effort on my part, a soft pull on the handle, clear, fresh, clean, drinkable water, any temperature I want, as much as I want. I am reminded (as I am so often) that I am lucky, that so many others have so much less. I feel gratitude (also guilt) for my situation, send out a prayer for those who are suffering, and recommit to not wasting a single drop, a single moment of my precious luck, of my opportunity, my chance, my life.

I believe everyone has the right to clean, safe drinking water. Since 2006, charity: water has funded water projects around the world to help millions of people get access to water, hygiene education and improved sanitation. Private donors cover the charity's operating costs so that 100% of the money donated goes to clean water projects.

My wish on my 45th birthday is to raise $1000, an homage to my blog (A Thousand Shades of Gray), in honor of my hope that somehow through writing it, connecting with my kind and gentle readers, I can inspire others to help ease suffering in the world, that I can be part of that, that I will be inspired to do more, to change what I can change.

What can $1000 do? Help 10 families in Ethiopia
get access to clean water. What else will it do? Give me the best birthday present possible.