Time, money, statistics- numbers envelope us in every aspect of our lives. In the morning, we wake up to the annoying alarm because it is the time for us to do so. During meetings, we prove the credibility and depth of our research with the magic of empirical answers- charts, graphs and formulas. Before we enter slumberland, we set the time that we have to wake up at for the next day. We become the slaves to time, the believers of empirical solutions, the worshippers of arithmetical formulas. Numbers begin to define, conquer and control us. Like a clairvoyant, numbers take over our mindsets and perceptions towards people, issues and things.
How old are you? Oh, you are too old to be doing something so intensive. Your heart will not be able to take it. You’ll throw out your back. You will faint. Yet, we still do witness many elderly persons who completed their marathons, who climb mountains over mountains, who dance like Michael Jackson himself.
Oh, this movie is too gory and violent for kids. Let us watch something else. Cartoons? Educational programs? PG rated movies? Yet, let us take a moment here and wonder about kids who have witnessed wars, who have been assaulted, who have fought in wars.
Age- it limits and defines what you are or you think you are capable of doing.
Age- it alters people’s or even your perspectives of yourself and others.
Age- it narrows our understanding of the world.
What is your weight? Oh, you cannot be a model, you are not as attractive as her, you will not look beautiful in this dress. Yet, look at Kim Kardashian, Ashley Graham and Tara Lynn. They are reputable models who have glossed the pages of fashion magazines. They have looks that people envy a lot. They look gorgeous in any piece of apparels or lingerie.
How tall are you? Oh, you will not do well in basketball, you will not stand a chance to be a famous model, you will have a hard time finding a girlfriend. However, these are all but stereotypes. Anthony Webb is one of NBA’s shortest player and has scored 8072 points in his entire career.
Cara Delevingne is only about 5’7”-5’8” and has modelled for Burberry and Fendi. Last but not least, Keith Urban has gotten himself a gorgeous wife- Nicole Kidman, who is a few inches taller than him. Our height and weight affect others’ and our perceptions of ourselves, undermines our self- esteem , make us think twice before plucking up the courage to break certain restrictions to enjoy what we always wanted to try doing.
What is your GPA? How much did you score for your exams? Oh, you will not be successful next time, you will not earn a lot in the future, you will end up begging on the streets. Ellen DeGeneres dropped out of university and yet, she is one of the best hosts and comedians one would have ever known. Oprah Winfrey dropped out of college and is definitely one of the richest women living on Earth now. Lady Gaga dropped out of university and is living a life of luxury in her oceanfront house in Malibu.
To the society, our grades define our futures, our successes, our lives. Our grades affect their beliefs in us, restrict their abilities to see us deeper down, allow them to construct our futures for us. We need to see everyone beyond their grades and get to know what are they really capable of.
In this 21st century, everyone and everything bow down to numbers. Like a Greek god, numbers govern us and we abide to the rules made by numbers. We build institutions and create items to show our worshipping of numbers. Now, let us just take a moment and ask ourselves- do we create numbers or do numbers create us?