Stay Refilled: What an Owala Bottle Taught Me About Leadership Hydration
You can’t pour from an empty vessel. But you also can’t fake fullness. Hydration is deeper than you think.
I didn’t think a water bottle would check me. But then I met Owala.
You know the one—flip cap, bold colors, leakproof, aesthetic enough for a CEO and Gen Z alike. I bought it thinking I was just upgrading from plastic bottles. What I didn’t know was that I was about to get a whole lesson in leadership, maintenance, and the theology of being refilled.
Because here’s the thing:
Most leaders aren’t burning out because they don’t care. They’re burning out because they stay thirsty.
Hydration Is a Discipline
You don’t “feel” like drinking water. You decide to drink water.
Same with rest. Same with boundaries. Same with leadership integrity.
The Owala sits on my desk like a quiet accountability partner. It doesn’t beg for attention. But it reminds me that if I don’t choose replenishment, I’m choosing depletion.
We talk a lot about “pushing through,” about “grind culture,” about showing up even when you’re empty. But what if the most radical leadership move isn’t showing up exhausted—but showing up hydrated?
You Can’t Lead Well on a Dry Spirit
We often treat our energy like a paycheck—spending more than we earn and hoping we’ll recover later. But that’s not how your body works. That’s not how your spirit works. And that’s not how your leadership should work.
Every sip from that Owala bottle reminds me:
How often I ignore my signals.
How long I’ll go without checking in on myseelf.
How easy it is to look full and still be parched.
Owala Isn’t Just a Bottle. It’s a Boundary.
You know what else I love about it? It closes. It doesn’t spill.
Some of us need to learn that lesson, too.
Not every meeting deserves your overflow.
Not every opportunity deserves your energy.
Not every team gets unlimited access.
We spend so much time trying to prove we’re capable that we forget our calling requires care. And sometimes, care looks like saying, “I’m off-limits right now. I’m refilling.”
Hydration Check: A Leadership Audit
Here are 5 questions to ask yourself before the next quarter:
What’s draining me without refilling me?
Who gets more from me than I’ve given myself?
What daily practices (like drinking water) am I skipping in the name of productivity?
When was the last time I did something for restoration—not optics?
What’s one non-negotiable I need to set this week to stay full?
Because Fullness Is a Strategy
Let me be clear:
Your glow is not aesthetic—it’s operational.
Your energy is not a luxury—it’s essential.
And your hydration—physical, emotional, spiritual—is a sign of leadership maturity, not fragility.
You are not less committed when you rest.
You are not less capable when you pause.
You are not less professional when you protect your well.
Today’s Leadership Affirmations:
💧 I choose restoration over recognition.
💧 I lead from fullness, not fumes.
💧 I am worth the refill.
💧 I do not apologize for resting, drinking water, or saying no.
💧 My boundaries are hydration for my future.
To Close:
If Jesus stopped for water with the woman at the well, so can you.
If Moses struck a rock and God brought water from it, imagine what He’ll do when you ask for help instead of forcing performance.
If your body is made of water, maybe the most holy thing you can do today…
is drink.
And let that Owala bottle be a reminder:
Fullness is the standard. Not the reward.