Contemplative Reflections: Fiji Water

Thursday evening I was very thirsty. I wanted a bottle of water. Typically I don't purchase water, because that's just silly. Water's free. The earth naturally produces it. It's like sunlight. Why buy? But, it was one of those days. So, I walked into 7/11, went to the bottled water fridge and stood there thinking about which brand I should buy. Again, typically, when I do purchase bottled water, I purchase the cheapest. Water is water. Does it really matter if it's Evian or Aquafina? No. But, as I scanned the water bottle brands, my eyes landed on this -

 This water bottle took me back to August 2006 to a wonderful period/life changing trip -  NYC. 

I was in NYC with BYU-I to do a PR job search. My plan was to graduate at the end of August and move to NY, intern at a PR firm, and become an NYC resident. If you look closely at the above picture you will see that I am the 2nd girl from the left (Side note: This is the building where they filmed the Devil Wears Prada, sweet, huh). If you look even closer you will notice that I am wearing my black Jessica Simpson pumps and in my arm is a beautiful Louis Vuitton purse (on loan from a dear college friend just for the NY occasion, she wanted me to be as NY fashionable as possible). What you are not able to see is that inside the Louis is a bottle of Fiji water. Identical to the bottle pictured above. I purchased the water right as I got off the plane at the Guardia airport. Partially because I wanted to live it up and feel like a real, posh, PR, New Yorker, and I thought water in a cute bottle would give me the full effect. And you know what? It did. (Quick side note: I carried the bottle around my whole time in NY. I consistently refilled it with tap water to justify my purchase to myself.) I loved that trip. So much. For the past three years I have reflected upon it again and again. It is one of the highlights of my life. You see, right before the trip, randomly I turned in my mission papers. It wasn't until I was on my way back from NY that I knew I needed to serve a mission and that everything would be a 100% okay when I got back. 

This is one of my favorite pictures with two of my favorite people in eternity, my dear friends Sister Eland and Tania Davila. I learned so much from both of them. 

Because of the mission I now live here - 

Chicago. With my good friend Amanda (Scott, little shout! Glad you're our neighbor!)

And my BF from high school, Ruth

Nope. I wouldn't have a lot of things I have now that I love and cherish if it wasn't for my mission. And my mission probably wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for my wonderful NY trip, and my wonderful NY trip probably wouldn't have been so wonderful if it hadn't been for the Fiji water. 

So, needless to say Thursday night, in 7/11, while contemplating my past three years in 30 seconds at the water bottle fridge, I opted for the bottle of Fiji water. And I haven't looked back.