Okay, maybe calling it my emotional support water bottle is a stretch. But I don’t go anywhere without it.

These days, carrying a reusable water bottle seems completely normal. Yet when I was growing up in the 80s, nobody traveled with their own water. If you got thirsty, you found a public drinking fountain. If you were outside playing, there was always the garden hose. Somehow, we survived.

Then came the rise of single-use bottled water. Convenience became king, and before long, plastic water bottles were everywhere—in our cars, offices, schools, parks, and eventually our oceans and landfills. (Not to mention the microplastics in our body.)

That’s one reason I’ve become so attached to my reusable water bottle. It’s a half-gallon stainless steel beast that’s impossible to ignore. When I take a sip, everyone notices. (The size and sound is ridiculous). It’s heavy enough that I joke it could double as self- defense equipment if needed.

What I love most isn’t its size—it’s the stickers. I love that it’s become cool for grownups to sticker their belongings! Every sticker tells a story. Local nonprofits I support. Community organizations I believe in. Causes that matter to me. It’s become a little snapshot of who I am and what I value. And unlike disposable water bottles, this one doesn’t become trash after a single use.

While research continues into the long-term impacts of microplastics, many people are choosing reusable bottles as a way to reduce both plastic waste and their reliance on single-use products.

For me, it’s one small habit that feels easy to maintain. The best part? I only had to buy it once.

I’ve carried this bottle for years. It’s traveled with me on road trips, to work, the baseball field, and through countless errands. Every refill is one less disposable bottle that needed to be manufactured, transported, purchased, and thrown away.

Sustainability doesn’t always require a dramatic lifestyle change. Sometimes it’s as simple as finding a reusable item you genuinely love and using it every day.

So here’s this week’s green tip: Find your emotional support water bottle. Cover it in stickers. Take it everywhere.

By Kimberly Flores, Founder of fulFILLed Lifestyle Co.