Why numbers matter

How do we define ourselves? In a world with over 7 billion people, what is out identity? We are all made up of numbers: our social security number, bank accounts, student numbers, class rankings, test percentage scores, the price tag on our shirts, the size of our pants, the number of awards we've received.

Personally, I'm also constantly aware of the number of calories I intake everyday, the number on the scale, IQ point score, the number of times I've won piano competitions or arm wrestling contests (quite a few on the former, 0 on the latter).

Numbers matter, of course they do. There is beauty in numbers and it brings our world chaos into order, simply because there is so much data that exists. So we need to tag and name and locate everything, but I think that there's no denying that some numbers matter more than others.

But we're made of more than the things that are consciously tracked and numbers. We're made of happiness and memories and feelings that we share with the wonderful people in our lives. Can't think of any? Here are a few:

• The number of smiles you've brought to your friends' faces

• The number of hugs and kisses you've given and received

• The number of holiday decorations you've put up

• The number of favourite treats and snacks you've eaten

• The number of times you've seen your favourite movie and how often you've shared it with your family and friends

• The number of coffees you've had

• The number of times you've been told "Guac is extra" but said, "fuck it" and got it anyways.

We are more than the numbers that we see and we are more than the numbers that we think about. Numbers matter, of course they do, but we are more than the number on our transcripts, more than the our GPA, more than the number in our bank accounts. We are all made of numbers, but it's just important to remember that just like some infinities are bigger than other infinities, some numbers matter more than others.