This week, I was thinking about our collective obsession with the numbers. We hope that folk will subscribe, and we count how many subscribers he has, or she has … we wait for a milestone, share the number, and celebrate ‘progress’ or what passes for it. Word count, people count, counting everything … because we can. But then the counting turns into pressure, to do more, to have more, to measure other things. We look at the tools other folk are using, try them out, and measure the changes. Numbers, numbers. They kind of get you thinking. They seem to get people worried … and that gets you thinking too.
I wanted a new ‘thing’ to improve my cycling
So I treated myself to a bike computer. It clicks into a bespoke holder on my handlebars and its 3.2” touch screen glances up at me alluringly as I pedal. It whispers things as I go along … “oh, look, Barrie, you are averaging 22.2 kilometres an hour”. It tells me there’s a hill coming up - mm, is that good news? The air temperature, yes that would explain why I am particularly red in the face. Calories consumed. Power output. Metres to go until the top of the climb. That’s the 7th of 12 climbs in the route you’ve planned. I forgot to mention, I can plan a route - put in our house as the starting point, add a succession of cute-sounding French village names, and a slightly persistent (borderline irritating) *beep* guides you along the way - I should point out that ‘irritating’ turns to ‘irritated’ if you deviate from the prescribed route - the beep gets louder and the screen turns redder, the bike computer’s way of telling you it is VERY annoyed that you thought independently. Anyway, did I mention the ‘upcoming hill’ information, with its gradients and length of climb? There are limitations; you cannot just type in ‘Cake Shop’ and build a route around patisserie. This feels like a flaw because if it tells me how many calories I am consuming, surely I need to have a corresponding facility for guiding me to refuelling stops … just an idea, bike computer designers. Anyhoo, it is ALL about the numbers. Let’s ride!
So, we went for a ride.
We celebrated the exhilaration of the downhills and topping out on the climbs. The crisp Autumn air nipped at our chests and pale golden sunshine filtered through trees that are turning russet, oranges and yellows outnumbering the greens. We stopped at our favourite boulangerie for double espressos and chausson aux pommes, before a glorious downhill and out into the countryside. Some familiarity in the first part of the route, flashing past houses made of Charentaise stone, gentle morning light bringing out a pink blush. Winding through tree-lined lanes, past bucolic farms, birds fluttering from barn lofts. A swimming spot, lunch at a picnic table … and onwards to Gateaux, the cake shop where Lydia piles the calories high and the slightly sugared tea sparks a burst of energy for the last leg and ensures we are not on our last legs. Sunshine warming the soul now, good honest toil and the sweat of our brows. The last hill, and a mighty pedal at full speed to test what is left in the legs as we reach home. Glorious. Excited by our achievement, a shared moment, a fabulous day out.
But what about the numbers, Barrie?
Forget the numbers, I say, did you enjoy the ride?
And so to
(or whatever social media platform you are currently using) as I stretch this analogy to breaking point.I worry that I see too many folk obsessing about the numbers and forgetting that “comparison is the thief of joy” (Theodore Roosevelt).
This is your encouragement to JUST ENJOY THE RIDE
I simplified all this into a Note last week and it turned into our ‘most liked’ post (I say that not to boast about the ‘like’ count but to reflect that the ideas seem to strike a chord).
I'm writing down the Golden Rules (including number 6). 💛
I’ve had a difficult week with my students, détails prohibited but suffice to say your post is very relevant and as such a breath of fresh air... This is what I wrote on my Instagram post last night...
In the end…
It doesn’t matter, nothing does but kindness, honesty and love.. and ‘becoming’ together as a whole, not a part…
Does that make sense to you..?
“the worst thing,” he told me,
“is bitterness, people end up so
bitter.”
― Charles Bukowski
It seems to me many, including the very young sadly, are always looking for more when what they have is already beautiful. So thank you for these very wise words..