This bottle (before it was dented) came into my life seven years ago, when my friend and co-worker gave it to me, after finding it discarded in the grass where we worked. I had been reusing plastic @nestle bottles and was getting a lot of slack about the health effects of leaving plastic in the sun.

The truth is, I didn’t start using a reusable bottle because of the environment or to reduce plastic pollution, but rather because making the switch ended a conversation.

This bottle was unremarkable for the first five years of owning it. Even though I used it daily, it didn’t garner any attention.

But when this bottle got smashed two years ago, everywhere I went I got asked about it. I was forced to reflect on why I wasn't replacing it, when a lot of people told me that I should get a new one. I felt protective, and found that I was unusually attached to this basic object that I had never really considered before.

While at first, the bottle leaked if I forgot to screw the lid on tightly, now this rarely happens because I understand the bottle’s quirks. The dent also conveniently acts as a hand-hold, and it’s easier to grip. This bottle has been with me through an important chunk of my life, and I admire its resilience. Over time I’ve forgotten that it looks this way, as it’s again become an object I no longer think about. Had I got rid of it upon first dent, I never would have had the opportunity to cultivate a love and appreciation for it.

Just because something changes, or we have to use it differently, does not mean we have to discard it. This mindset, “get a new one” is reflective of our throw-away culture and the belief that objects are endlessly replaceable. But what if there wasn’t “a new one?”

Using this bottle means that I have to answer a lot of questions, but it also creates conversation and connection since it leads me to interact with many people. Before you decide to replace a functional object, I’d encourage you to consider a new perspective. By choosing to continue using something less than perfect, you might discover that a well-worn item actually holds meaning.