I have never considered myself a numbers person. I relate to words – the narrative, literature, story. I do crosswords, anagrams, Wordle and Qwordle. I cannot do Sudoko to save my life.
However, I have come to realise of late that I am absolutely ruled by numbers.
When I wake up in the morning, my phone tells me the time and date. (It is also helpful that it tells me what day it is, because these days I can get a little confused about that!)
My radio and TV stations are found by numbers.
I select a numeric code to obtain the type of coffee I want as I start the day.
Even when visiting the doctor it is all about numbers. Test results yield discussions around 5.7, 49, 3.8. I live by code! Medications by dosage amounts and frequency.
When in the car, the gear selection, speed etc are all numeric.
I bake my bread by numbers – 400g, 270ml, 7g – and then select 2 on my bread maker.
Even when I read my Bible the text is dispersed with numbers – the verse references.
When listening to my books on Audible, there is the countdown of my % complete – the intrusion of the number.
When did this happen? I look at this list and realise it has always been the way of things – it is just now that it has hit me. I can’t help but think that it all relates to not seeing words and the written language as much as before.
Newspaper articles have significantly reduced and are often more an expansion of the headline with no in-depth explanation. Email has destroyed the written letter – particularly written by hand. And then there is the text message. The Advertiser on Wednesday reported that Gen Z find older people’s use of the text amusing as we continue to include the comma or full stop and even end with our name – all considered redundant now.
Also, with my eyesight failing and my reliance on Audible books, my own connection to the written word is reduced and I miss so much having and holding a solid book of words that take me on a journey of exploration and thought, where I see words with all their colour, form, nuance. So, it seems it’s me that what has really changed is me.
Faye Schmidt's Thoughts 