Where I was born, in Israel, water has played a key role in turning parts of a desert green. The borders between Israel and the Palestinian territories, and Israel and its neighboring Arab countries, are defined in numerous locations by The Green Line.

Looking across the countryside toward one of those borders, The Green Line is exemplified by either green plants or green trees. These have been planted by Israel to clearly define the edge of the country. The Green Line wouldn’t be there without water.

Most of Israel’s water comes from the mountains in the North and eventually meanders through tributaries to the Sea of Galilee. I used to live in Tiberias, the larger city on the West side of that sea.

There is fresh water in the Sea of Galilee because it is constantly moving. It comes into that sea from the North and leaves through the Jordan River to the South. There’s plenty of fish in the Sea of Galilee and the water is crystal clear. It’s as if you could reach down and pick up a fish for dinner.

A large percentage of Israel’s drinking water comes from the Sea of Galilee. It is a living, thriving body of water. The same can’t be said for the Dead Sea, situated some 66 miles south, at the other end of the Jordan River.

Nothing lives in the Dead Sea because nothing leaves the Dead Sea. It holds everything in. There is no outlet. Comprised of 30% salt, there are no fish there.

The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea exemplify most people’s personalities. The Sea of Galilee allows things to flow through it. The Dead Sea holds everything in. In one there is life. In the other there is none.

Some people let insignificant things flow through them. Others hold things in. Some people are full of life. Others are emotionally dead. If you’re in the wrong category, maybe it’s time to change. Will you or won’t you? I guess we’ll see.

Speaking of water, I read a fascinating article in United Airline’s Hemispheres Magazine on a recent flight to Winnipeg, Canada. Written by Natalie MacLean, it was called “H2HAUTE” and dealt with world-renowned restaurants pushing bottled waters like fine wine. She relates that there are more than 700 brands of bottled water now produced worldwide.

In other water news, Natalie states in the article the following about dehydration. “According to Bottled Water Web (www.bottledwaterweb.com), 75 percent of North Americans are chronically dehydrated. Every day, adults lose about a liter (five glasses) of fluid, and that fluid needs to be replaced.

Even mild dehydration slows down the metabolism by as much as 3 percent, and a 2 percent drop in body water leads to fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or the printed page.”

Once I read this and gulped, some bottled water of course, I continued to be amazed by Ms. MacLean’s article as she correlated fatigue and back and joint pains with a lack of water. Drinking eight to 10 glasses of water a day could significantly improve those conditions.

The article further stated that several medical studies showed that drinking just five glasses of water a day “helps to decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent, breast cancer by 79 percent, and bladder cancer by 50 percent.”

If you want to check how much liquid would be enough for you on a daily basis, depending on your weight and exercise level, go to the International Bottled Water Association’s Web site at www.bottledwater.org. There you’ll find a hydration calculator.

Ms. MacLean also notes that midnight hunger pangs can be easily alleviated with a glass of water. She further relates that, “according to the World Health Organization, new research has shown that tea, coffee, and cola drinks can replenish body fluids just as well as water.”

So, you may find all of this a pretty tall glass of water. As with any information, decide how much of it you wish to consume. The bottom line is this: Consider the lesson from the fresh-water Sea of Galilee and the barren Dead Sea. Let insignificant things flow through you. Don’t hold them in.

As far as dehydration goes, get some bottled water right now and, in this direction, maybe it’s time you started drinking. Cheers!

An Affirmation of Good Health

I allow insignificant things to flow through me and that is improving my health.