Whose Cup Did You Fill Today?
Being a pharmacist at Roslyn Pharmacy can sometimes be… a lot.
Picture this: I’m carefully checking a prescription (you know, casually making sure I don’t kill anyone) when the phone rings. It’s someone who’s not that happy because a medicine is out of stock (dude - not my fault).
Before I can finish speaking to the patient, one of the techs calls out needing help with a script. And just as I turn to deal with that, someone walks up to the counter wanting advice about “the patches that don’t work”. At that very moment, as my feet step out of the dispensary, my watch dings urgently because the dog has vomited up her breakfast on the freshly cleaned carpet…
So yes - sometimes the day feels like my attention is being tipped out in ten directions at once.
And by the time I lock the pharmacy doors, I am completely poured out.
I read recently that this is actually a pretty good metaphor for how modern life works: every day we start with a full jug of attention. And throughout the day, we pour that attention into different “cups” - work, family, chores, conversations, worries, screens, scrolling, eating, rushing, recovering.
But we only get one jug each day. When it’s gone, it’s gone.
The tricky part is that we often end up pouring most of our water into the loudest cups - the ones that demand, interrupt, buzz, ping, nudge, flash, ring, or shout. Not necessarily the ones that matter the most.
Meanwhile, the quiet cups - connection, calm, family, rest, joy - sit there getting the leftover droplets.
This is not our fault. The odds are very much stacked against us.
The biggest companies in the world build their entire business model around capturing our attention for as long as possible. They use advanced algorithms, behavioural psychology, and pour millions into researching human impulsiveness to achieve their goals. Their success relies on us not looking up. Not stepping away. Not choosing differently.
So if you feel like your attention is constantly being tugged away from the things you actually care about - you’re not weak, distracted, or failing. You’re up against systems designed to win.
But here’s the good news: every night, when we sleep, the jug refills.
Every morning, we get another chance to pour our attention differently. Once we’re aware, we can choose.
Some days I think, “Well… mostly mindless scrolling and emails.”
And other days I think, “I actually poured it into the people I love today.”
You might notice that the quality of your day - how it felt - has everything to do with where you placed your attention.
With practise, you’ll quickly understand who deserves your attention.
Aunty Maureen’s friend’s Facebook drama? Probably not.
Your own peace and your own people? Absolutely.
As always, if anything here has nabbed your attention (lol), please don’t hesitate to reach out - we especially love hearing your feedback in store.
Andy and the team at Roslyn Pharmacy - Dunedins Friendliest Pharmacy