This morning, as I was waiting for my tea water to boil (because adulthood is mostly waiting for water to do things) I asked myself a totally normal, not-at-all-unhinged question:

Can you see your reflection in boiling water?

Science says no. Psychology says maybe you shouldn’t be trying.

Boiling water is pure chaos with bubbles everywhere, steam doing its best impression of a dramatic exit, the surface breaking like it’s tapping out of a wrestling match. Nothing about that says “reflective moment.”

And honestly? That feels like life.

When things are rolling at a full, aggressive boil with deadlines popping, emotions bubbling, responsibilities steaming up your glasses, that’s not when you see yourself clearly. Try to catch a reflection then, and all you’ll get is blur, distortion, and maybe the faint outline of someone who should’ve slept more.

But here’s the kicker. If the water is almost boiling at just a gentle simmer, almost a pre-chaos whisper, then then surface becomes briefly smooth. Calm. Quietly reflective.

Isn’t that always the moment?
Not the explosion of stress.
Not the peak heat of drama.
But the in-between. The exhale.
The micro-pause before everything bubbles over.

Maybe the trick isn’t trying to see yourself during life’s rolling boils.
Maybe it’s learning to notice the simmer in that fleeting, precious moment where the surface settles and you catch a glimpse of who you are, who you’ve been, or who you’re about to become.

So no, you can’t see your reflection in boiling water. But you can see it if you step back for a moment, lower the flame just a touch, and let things settle.

Then suddenly, there you are clear as day.