Why I wouldn’t give water on 100 bottles of Coke

… even when they are this pretty:

The truth is if I want a soft drink I’ll always choose a Coke. But more often, I find myself in a desperate need of water. I just sit comfortably, watching Game of Thrones, chewing on a pretzel or potato chip, when suddenly I press the space bar. I need it! Badly! Just one sip! No, not a tasty cocktail or refreshing fizzy drink, no, just water.

Yep, simple, ordinary water.

In that moment, I’d give anything for a glass of the “odorless, colorless, tasteless” liquid (that’s how we first learned about it in science class at school, remember?), which I usually drink with hunger and finish with a content sigh. It’s almost like in the usual commercials for Coca Cola, so you may be wondering… what exactly do I find so tasty about it?

Nothing. See, it’s not about the taste, but rather the feeling after. When I’m dehydrated, almost unknowingly, my body craves for water. I can cheat it with Coke, but the sweetness of the drink only alerts my body that I’ve tricked it. The same goes for coffee, if not worse.

The satisfaction that I’ve calmed my thirst, the right temperature of the water, the feeling of every cell of body being invaded with a cure, not a treatment … well, it’s my small – not guilty at all – pleasure.

See, unlike Coke, I don’t feel even guilty when I drink it. I know it’s what my body needs, since more than 50% of it is made of water. It’s healthy, it’s rejuvenating, it’s fuel for my cells.  Also, I have this weird, great sensation of giving me a gift when I consciously reach for water, not Coke. It’s like honoring my roots, celebrating the taste of the one thing essential for life, for us, the one true thing that keeps us alive above all else.

The one thing Tuareg people cherish most.