I’ve spent most of my life in the capital city of our fair State of Queensland. As much as anyone else, I’d say I’ve taken for granted the conveniences and advantages of city life.

One of those leading the list would be the ease of access to clean drinking water. ……..A quick twist of the wrist and there you have it. Hot or Cold. Clean drinking water (overlook the added chemicals for this exercise). I’d never have given it a moments thought.

Hot showers?
The longer the better. I loved it!

It wasn’t till I started traveling O/S and then spending over five years living a wilderness lifestyle in a high mountain desert environment, that I started to appreciate those many conveniences that I was brought up with.

Check out the accompanying video and see how you’d measure up to the challenge this lady gave herself.

There is no doubt that the world is changing rapidly in many ways. Climate and a diminishing water supply are gaining more and more media prominence.

There is one thing I am convinced of. Life in the modern society, for all its advantages, is also chock full of ”sirens” of distraction that lull the majority of inhabitants into a false sense of security.

Perhaps the most serious result of all
this is the disconnect with nature.

And there lies the rub. Rather than co-operating with the natural rythums and cycles of life, you are pitted against it. 

Jimmy Carter once made a statement to the effect that being awake to the fact …. “that health is dependent upon habits that we control”……. enables us to determine our own destiny.

In an environment that sets us apart from nature, habits tend to be developed that reinforces the separateness.

Your habits dictate your choices. Your choices all carry consequences. Some good, some bad. Once the connection is made between your choices and the consequences to your health (physical, financial or whatever), you have made the first big step to determining your own destiny.

Karen and I now live in a rural area on the mid-East coast of Australia.

We have no town water.
We relay solely on,
“tank water”. 

“Tank water” is rain water that has been collected from our roof tops and channeled into large storage tanks. This system is very common in Australia, particularly in rural areas.

Needless to say, we have become much more conscious of how we use our water. It is still relatively abundant, but we are ever mindful of wastage. Our appreciation for the convenience of the water we do have has been significantly heightened and I would say, so has our appreciation for the Nature that provides it.

The shortage of clean water is one of the big problems facing the majority of the world’s populations. When water is no longer available, THEN it’s true VALUE becomes obvious to everyone. It is so much easier and more comfortable to make adjustments amidst abundance, than being forced to change through scarcity.

If you’re not interested in repeating the experiment outlined in the video, then how about trying it for ONE day? Failing that, just measure the quantity of water you use in a typical shower or bath.

You might be shocked!!

There’s nothing like first hand experience to really get to know something. As one of Britain’s most influential architects of the 17th century put it …. “Raising awareness is the key and getting people to ask the right questions - only they can decide what they do from there.”
….  James Gibbs

Till next time. …… Enjoy your shower.

Good Health and increased awareness.
Cheers,
Sven