It’s easy to take water for granted. Here in the U.S., we turn the handle of a faucet and drinkable water spews forth. We drink it, bathe in it, swim in it, clean with it, and flush away our waste with it

How often do we stop and truly appreciate this incredible gift that is so critical to our life and wellness?

My first glass of water for the day.

Today is day seven of my Gratitude Challenge and the assignment is to take a picture of one thing, person, place, or specific moment that makes me feel grateful. I took a picture of my first of about 10 glasses of water that I will drink today.

It’s a little mind-boggling that something so simple that we acquire so easily is so vital for all known forms of life. You can go a long time without food–as long as you are hydrated.

I love the factoids that water covers 70.9 percent of the Earth’s surface, and the human body contains from 55 to 78 percent water, depending on body size.

To function properly, the body needs between one and seven liters of water per day, depending on the level of activity, temperature, humidity, and other factors. Most advocates agree that about 2 liters (6 to 7 glasses) of water daily is the minimum to maintain proper hydration.

Not only is water vital, but it’s also beautiful. Some of my favorite things in the world are sunshine reflecting off the surface of a lake, and the breaking of ocean waves. Even light sparkling off water as you pour it into a glass can be stunningly beautiful, as is the morning dew.

Access to safe drinking water has improved over the last decades in almost every part of the world, but about one billion people still lack access to safe water. I am grateful that I have more than I need at my fingertips, and that I pay so little for it.

Most of us know we should drink water, but often we reach for coffee, a soft drink, or other beverage instead. Today, I encourage you to think about water—the water that makes up your body, that you drink, that you wash your hands and dishes in.

Appreciate the sensation of it on your skin, the cool smoothness of it on your tongue, the beauty of light shining through it, and the benefits that it brings to each cell in your body. Appreciate this substance that is so simple, yet so profoundly important to all life.

Together we can do it!