Sunset Beach, Cape May, NJ © pam lazos
Pristine. The word means unspoiled, untouched, or as new, a quaint concept when describing the environment because there is almost no place left on earth that hasn’t been touched by man’s meddling. Today, freshwater supplies are more endangered than ever in human history. When only 0.5% of our freshwater is accessible and useable, and as of today, there are 8.2 billion thirsty people on the planet, I’d say that we will need to rethink some of our choices sooner rather than later.
Add this to the fact that companies are selling us our groundwater — water that belongs to all of us — in small and large plastic bottles that eventually find their way back to our oceans, rivers, and streams because only 10% of plastic bottles are recycled, and I’d say we’re on a fast track to buying the farm. This is America, eh? All’s well that ends well. Except that none of the environmental indicators agree. We can’t live our lives this out of balance and expect the fun Hollywood ending we’ve all gotten used to seeing.
Rather than try to scare the bejeezus out of you with all the dire environmental predictions, this World Water Day, I’ll leave you with a few pieces of prose that will, hopefully, spark your creative fire and encourage you to act on behalf of water.
The first is a free-write from fellow blogger da-AL at Happiness Between Tails, entitled “I Am Water.”
Dictionaries call me transparent.
Yes, I am water, but I’m much more!
As streams, rivers, and oceans, I might be a rainbow of blue and green that shimmers into turquoise.
Watch a rivulet on a sidewalk; you’ll see me as gas-slicked with ruby, emerald, and sepia. Lapping into waves at the beach or against a child’s bath, I’m spun into a milky froth.
Gaze upon my expanse when days or nights are calm; I’ll mirror the sun and sky or the moon and stars. Let wind brush against me, and I’ll challenge diamonds to glitter with more facets than I do and stars to send out more lashes of brilliance.
Crane your neck and watch me hover far above in the wisps and fists of clouds that’ll invite you to imagine are shaped into animals and more. Close your eyes for me to splash your face with silver droplets of rain. Wait for a very cold day to see me drift white snowflake prisms onto tree tops.
Strain me into a glass, and yes, I’ll be dictionary-clear. Allow me to sit, and I’ll give life to green moss. Dark storm clouds of me can churn earthbound bodies of me into silt.
Whatever my color, I am the force that allows your eyes to see me in all my kaleidoscopic glory. Run your fingers through me, and I escape. Cup your hands to drink me, and I’ll nourish you.
Could it be that I, water, am the color of your soul?
Beautiful, right? I can just feel the clouds drifting by, the rain on my face, the prismatic color of water. We are one, water and us.
This next one by prolific author and blogger Mike Steeden is a bit more sardonic but equally profound because all life is a balance, and if you don’t know your liabilities, you can never fully enjoy your assets.
The sky will last forever
The clouds are temporary
In a 100 years from now
What remains will be a poisoned sea
Some will call it tragic
When the sea puts on its show for free
Just rotting fish and plastic
A becalmed toxic destiny
Idiots and profiteers
Sit back and watch it on TV
The carcasses of whales
The cloak of everlasting synthetic debre
It’s already far too late to save
The art of sky and clouds and sea
Maybe you’ll have a picture on the wall
Of nature’s old-days creativity.
Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved. Unauthorised copying, reproduction, hiring, and lending, prohibited.
Beautiful Susquehanna River © pam lazos
I wrote a version of this last one a decade ago when I first started blogging. Sadly, little in the world of water has changed.
I Am Water
I am water. And so are you. At least about 72% of you is, along with the person you love, your kids, friends, and all your acquaintances, all mostly water. Several billion years ago, a few single-celled organisms started focus groups, formed bonds, discussed logistics, and eventually crawled out of the primordial soup. Oceans covered the planet at one time, and dinosaurs roamed the earth. Despite the passage of time, we’re still drinking dinosaur pee.
When I was born, I shared the water on this planet with just over 3 billion people. Today, I’m sharing it with 8.2 billion. By 2030, one-third of these billions of people will not have access to clean drinking water; by 2040, the constant struggle of 9 billion people’s energy needs vs. personal water use will create dire water shortages for the entirety of humanity; by 2050, it could be game over.
Rather than say, “The problem is too big; there is nothing I can do,” say, “I am water.” By aligning yourself with the essence of water, you change the game.
Water is fluid. Water is cleansing. Water is buoyant, intuitive, and multi-dimensional. Water knows how to heal itself, and intrinsically, you do, too.
March 22nd is World Water Day, a day to meditate on the blessings of something seemingly so bountiful and so much a part of us — something we can’t live without. Yet, its future remains precariously balanced. What can you do to ensure it remains here for many generations?
Maybe start by ditching the plastic water bottle — preferably into a recycling bin.
Want to do more? Consider donating to the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, where clean water is our top priority.
pam lazos 3.21.25
Green Life Blue Water 
So many lovely transformations here to bring the mind to water. Thank you, my friend! xxxx
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Thank you, Jean. 🤗
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Thank you for these crucial reminders about who we really are and our relationship with water – what it is and what it needs to be. I especially love this: Whatever my color, I am the force that allows your eyes to see me in all my kaleidoscopic glory. Run your fingers through me, and I escape. Cup your hands to drink me, and I’ll nourish you.” I will remember and be eternally grateful.
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Hi Pam – I read this article about Great Lakes Water and thought you would find it of interest. That bright-green water – wow!
https://www.propublica.org/article/noaa-michigan-lab-toxic-algae-blooms-great-lakes-drinking-water
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Thank you, Linda. I’ll check it out!
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You’re welcome Pam. It was a bit technical in spots, but I knew you would find it interesting. I read enough to feel sick, especially seeing the green goo.
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Such an important awareness post, Pam. I worked 21 years in the water well drilling industry here in Canada. Got out of it 27 years ago when I was 40. Most of the wells were residential. Someone in the country has a well drilled to provide water for the family.
Some wells were bigger to supply towns and cities. There were also those wells I was sent to drill for the water companies. What you mentioned is 100% true. The groundwater in those aquifers belong to all of us.
Your statistics are staggering of the number of people that don’t have access to clean drinking water on our planet. As time goes on, this will only get worse. There is so much water waste here in Canada, such as watering lawns or taking 30 minute showers. Sadly there doesn’t seem to be the awareness. Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks for your erudite comments, Carl. The lack of understanding about this basic resource is very unsettling. It’s only when people like you educate others on the state of water that we stand of chance of conserving the water we have left. I appreciate the time you took to leave a comment. Come back soon.
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You are welcome, Pam. Thank you for your kind words.
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😊
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There you go, collaborating with fellow bloggers. Great! The chemicals and mold spores in our water….@#!@$% and the old, old pipes throughout the U.S.. The human body is amazing in its resilience. Keep shouting.
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Diana! Good to see you, and yes, still shouting. 😂 it’s not “ladylike” but it is effective. Hopefully all is well in your world?’😘
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LoL. I would expect nothing less of a seasoned attorney. Could be better, could be worse. But the venture back into daylight is a good sign. =) Thanks. Been thinking of you.
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😘🙏
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The poetic writings on water that you and Mike Steeden wrote are very thought provoking and beautiful. “companies are selling us our groundwater — water that belongs to all of us — in small and large plastic bottles that eventually find their way back to our oceans” I agree this is really crazy and I am very concerned about our fresh water as well.
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Thanks for your comments, Thomas! Even more upsetting is that there seems to be no way to stop the chaos! 😳
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We know the earth’s surface is mainly water, we know we are mainly water, perhaps that’s why we take it for granted.
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Good point! We don’t love ourselves enough. 🤷♀️😘
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Pam, this is terrible about the sea lions and algae bloom and debris in the water.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/demonic-sea-lion-reports-spark-concerns-about-toxic-algae-on-california-coast/ar-AA1BI86a?ocid=BingNewsSerp
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Wow that’s just as bad as the red tide off the coast of Florida, Linda. What a shame. The algae blooms come from too many nutrients in the runoff making its way to the rivers, streams and oceans. A sad state of affairs since farmers and green lawn enthusiasts live their fertilizer. 😳😔☹️
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Just an awful story Pam. I’ve not heard anything about the red tide issues this year, probably because of all the other items in the news. Wildlife and water suffer all too much.
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Probably a good guess. Too much other crazy going on.
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Agreed!
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😳🤪😜
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A powerful reminder, Pam. I remember a student who shared a quote with one of the classes I taught. “We only think of water when we’re thirsty.” Sad but true. It only comes to mind when we expect it to be there to serve our purposes and offer nothing in return. 💜
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I love that quote, Carol!
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I miss teaching, Pam, mostly because I learned so much from my students. And your post reminded me I now have time to do things I didn’t have time to do then. I just signed up as a member of the St. Louis River Alliance and plan to volunteer. 😊
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WOW 🤩 Carol, that’s awesome!👏 😎
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💜
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True words come from true people! Thank you, dear Pam, for this awakening and your wise words, along with those of such good, thoughtful individuals, especially Mike, whom I have cherished for many years. World Water Day is a phrase that should resonate in our ears every day! 🥰🪴🙏❤️
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Thank you 🙏 Aladin. We should make every day water 💦 day!
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Mike Steeden’s last two lines of his poem says it all.
“Maybe you’ll have a picture on the wall,
Of nature’s old-days creativity.”
You remember at the onset of the pandemic and the canals in Venice were closed – people sequestered in their homes and the water turned a beautiful clear blue color. Just a small scale of what is happening around the world with debris in oceans, rivers and streams, fuel leaks by freighters, planes falling out of the sky into the water. Very sad, all of it.
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Oh wow, Linda, I didn’t see those Venice photos but what a wonderful thing to imagine – blue canals!
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Yes, unpolluted until “traffic” began again!
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Isn’t it always the way!
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Yes!
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Thanks so very much, Pam, for including my writing here – a beautiful compliment and a wonderful post, to appear next to Mike’s poignant writing. I post on Thursdays, so ok if I reblog this within that day’s post?
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That would be lovely, D. And thanks so much for sharing your work!🥰🙏😘
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I became conservation-conscious when I was a Boy Scout. Ever since then I’ve tried not to waste water. So, I take very short showers. I use very little water to wash dishes. Et cetera.
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Aw, I love that story because it means you were taught right and have been converting water for decades, Neil. I can’t even get my niece and nephew to shit the light when they leave the room! This generation doesn’t understand conservation. Remember when Carter was president and we put on an extra sweater and lowered the thermostat. That behavior would be considered crazy today – and truth be told, it probably cost Carter the election.🗳️
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