When I was young I often heard this term which meant to me as a child that you have to do certain things
to be taken seriously. And until you can "Carry your own water" you aren't going to be taken seriously by
most adults. I experienced this the most when I first got married because my girlfriend got pregnant in 1973 when I was 25 (we got married when I was 26). I experienced respect from all adults after this. I was surprised actually because I always thought it was about a college degree bringing this respect. But, I found (at least in the 1970s) you got the respect then more from getting married and taking care of your family in all ways.
So, I experienced the value of "taking responsibility for my life and others through getting married and taking care of my wife and son financially and in all ways. And so my adult identity has always been (since then) father, husband and business owner and this is how I have viewed myself through this lens. Now it is Grandfather, father, husband and business owner and semi retired person. So, by carrying my own water I gained the respect I had always wanted as a child but did not get it then until I got married and took care of my family.
Also, I had always visualized someone carrying two buckets of water from the well when I started hearing this as a child. But, today I had watched last night with my wife "The Outlaw Josey Wales" with Clint Eastwood from 1976 and I started thinking about it as a skin or flask or canteen that someone carries when they travel which likely is a more useful way to think about "Carrying your own water" from history. I realized that "Carrying your own water" would make more sense regarding carrying water wherever you go in your travels even more than carrying buckets of water from the well to your home.
For example, whenever we travel we make sure we have enough water for the journey that we carry in our vehicles.
So "Carry your own Water" is even more significant to me in this newer way I'm seeing it.
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- To be subservient to and uncritical of someone; to do someone's bidding. ...
- To serve, assist, or perform menial or difficult tasks for some person, group, or organization. ...
- To support a person, organization, or cause that one would not in reality endorse, as due to pressure, force, or pragmatic reasons.
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