Squiggly lines and shapes

Numbers, numbers, numbers. Ranging from negative infinity to positive infinity; numbers hold a lot of value. Not only in terms of Math but also terms of communication and day-to-day uses.

Mohana: But Math is not only numbers. Math consists of letters and symbols as well. When you observe the subject as a whole, you will notice the excessive use of English as well as Greek alphabets. For example, x, alpha, beta, theta, psi, pi, lambda, ga-

YES. So we use a lot of numbers in our everyday life. They are in many forms like; Time, money, distance, statistics in newspapers, weight, marks... Some of these numbers are always stuck in our minds. They are stuck in the form of an obsession. Here's what I mean-

"I have to get 90 marks this time."

"I have to lose 5 more kgs."

"I have to eat 40 grams more."

"I have to spend 7 hours studying."

"I have to get rank 1."

Do any of these sentences seem familiar? Were these numbers ever used extensively? Or perhaps as a source of motivation? You might be thinking of these numbers at this very moment. The number that you think brings you success. The number that you think will solve your problems. Did you ever give these numbers the power to take control of you?

It's not uncommon. Especially when these numbers surround us. It is just one search away to see how much weight you should lose to have the perfect body. It's just one search away to see how many ranks you jump when you get one mark more. It's just one search away to see which job gives you the biggest paycheck. It's just one search away from toxically obsessing over these numbers.

It's so easy to get carried away and link numbers to our emotions. We spend hours trying to quantify our identity. We lose touch with reality while aiming at them. We start to view numbers as success... as happiness... as respect...

In actuality, numbers are supposed to be no more than a measure. It's just a tool. It simply presents you with a graph so you can check your progress. The graph can have ups and downs. We need to perceive the ups and downs as learning, not failure. That always seems to be forgotten.

By consuming ourselves with these numbers, we give them power. Besides, for a person who does not know numbers, they're just squiggly lines and shapes! And we give those mere designs the power to direct our life! When we allow those numbers to hold so much power; It paints the world of color to black and white. You begin to see the world as 0s and 1s.

Numbers are here to show you an outcome. Numbers do not show you your entire process. Numbers, by no means, can show you the amount of effort you put in. Unfortunately, there is no unit to measure your efforts. Numbers are used to saying, "I scored 45% in my exam." but never used to say, "I put in 100 units of effort for my exam."

When will we stop limiting ourselves to these numbers and start seeing how beautiful the path is? When will we stop using numbers to justify our level and start using words to describe our journey?

Today, let's have a start. Let us use the power of words and the tool of numbers to begin saying-

"I will put in best effort and get any amount of marks."

"I will choose to look past the scale and take care of my body."

"I will spend more quality over quantity of hours studying."

As Mohana said, life is not just numbers. There are so much more words and symbols.

Mohana: I said Math, not life.

....were the last famous words of Mohana...

Signed,

Ann.