Thursday, February 17, 2011

Tiny Pebbles

"There's practically no water coming out of this faucet" my friend said, waiting for his glass to fill. It was true, I agreed, and it had gotten worse over the past few weeks.

"No wonder, check out all the gravel stuck in your filter." The faucet looked stunted from where he'd unscrewed the tip and I examined the part he took off - a metal casing enclosing a plastic nub full of tiny pebbles. We discarded them and screwed the faucet back together. The water flowed. His glass filled quickly.

It's been two days and my life has dramatically improved. Replenishing the dog bowl takes 4 seconds instead of 30. My dishwasher works again (it's the kind that wheels over to the sink and has a hose that manually screws into the faucet.) My glass fills quickly.

I was reveling in this small victory (while doing the dishes) and it occurred to me how much this relatively small fix had quietly helped elevate my mood. I took a moment to notice the water's rush over my hands, how quickly the suds moved from pot to drain, the consistent heat and pressure ... Perfection in a faucet.

Much of what I take for granted is perfect: a drawer that slides easily, a door that doesn't squeak, the sound of my car motor starting up. It's time to start appreciating these seemingly inconsequential moments and things because together they are the fuel that drive my day and give me strength to tackle the pebbles and stones that can sometimes block the path.