Anytime I get nervous during an interview or a meeting, I do one of two things: either take a sip from my water bottle or fiddle around with my necklace. Both give me somewhat of a calming nature that clears my mind and gives me a few seconds to collect my thoughts.
It isn’t until I accidentally forget my water bottle in my dorm room or miss putting all my jewelry on that I realize how much those actually provide me with some semblance of comfort. Throughout the day, I go through rehearsed motions like subconsciously reaching for my necklace while answering a question in class or reaching for my water bottle after giving a presentation. It’s in those moments that I’ve realized that both items truly take on the title “emotional support item.”
Although it may seem silly, both items have, on numerous occasions, given me a way to somewhat slow my racing mind. Contrary to what some might think, I do have a difficult time completely articulating what I want to say during class discussions. I am constantly scared that instead of nodding along, a professor will cut me off completely because I am absolutely wrong in my assertions. So, as I raise my hand, I instinctively reach for my necklace to wring it on the chain to remind myself to take a breath and remember exactly what I want to say.
But that’s not even the true value of these items to me. It goes even further into my past and the sentimental memories they bring for me.
I originally got my Hydroflask in May of 2020. It was my birthday, yet due to lockdowns, I wasn’t able to do much to celebrate with my family. But when I unwrapped my new water bottle, all my personal issues seemed to evaporate since I now had the new craze that was all over social media. Over time, that water bottle followed me through the rest of the lockdowns, my senior year of high school and beginning the next step of my adulthood in Portland. No matter the number of bumps and bruises this bottle will accrue over time, I think I’ll only replace it if it truly does not function anymore or I lose it.
The personalizations I’ve made with all my stickers allow me to express my interests. It took me hours to decide how I wanted to configure them because I wanted to make sure they were all visible and didn’t overlap with each other too much.
My water bottle has been present for so much of my young adulthood that it’s no longer just a way to meet my daily intake of water. It has traveled to various different states and countries and is always reliable for when I need to look busy in class when a professor is looking to call on someone.
My necklace also has a similar origin story. It was a gift from my aunt for my birthday in 2021. It was one I thought looked cute off Etsy that probably cost about $25. But over time, I began wearing it practically every day because I started getting several compliments over it. And now, it’s just become part of my morning routine: brush teeth, get dressed, put on necklace.
And on days when I don’t put it on, I immediately notice. Typically, I’m running a little behind so I don’t have time to go and put it on, which doesn’t deter me from constantly reaching for it when needed. It must look strange to others when I randomly reach for my neck and fiddle around until I realize that it isn’t actually there.
My necklace and water bottle have comforted me in more ways than I could imagine. They keep me grounded in the moment and reassure me in times of crisis. If I’m ever seen around campus without them, I can reassure you that I’m internally freaking out.
Molly Bancroft is a sports reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at bancroft26@up.edu.
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