Necessary Numbers (w/audio)

On By Michele LeeIn Audio, Humor, Poetic Prose

Audio length: 3:48

I need to see you after class, she said to me.

More curious than nervous, I did as she instructed.

You’re really good with numbers; you should consider a profession that involves math.

I said thank you outwardly then cringed inwardly at the thought of that.

She found me out and took the time to call me out.

To this day, I am grateful to Ms. Nagy for telling me that.

Sometimes one person’s encouragement can change a life direction.

I was no Rain Man, but I held my own, solving complex equations, as the youngest in a class of seniors.

My math path ended after successfully completing analytical geometry and advanced trigonometry.

That was the end of that!

*******

I did not follow Ms. Nagy’s suggestion, although on more than one occasion I thought myself a fool for teaching English rather than math. Math teachers, not needing to toil over endless papers, can grade in a flash. They can kick up their feet or easily add coach to their title while their English colleagues lose their eyesight and minds while burning the midnight oil. Just one more paper then I can sleep…

*******

Math is useful and purposeful, even magical.

The entire universe is shaped by its (hidden) language.

To see the solution to an algebraic equation plot itself out in a graphing calculator is visual artistry.

Ever tried to make a dress, bake a cake, play an instrument, or build a house without math?

Good luck with that!

*******

I see its beauty; I appreciate its sacred symmetry; I understand its necessity.

The thought of one “right” answer is quite alluring.

However, simply stated, the laws of math are too defined for me.

My mind lives in a world where words allow me to defy gravity and expand boundaries.

A world where every question has multiple, if not endless, possibilities.

Oh, how this drives some people to the brink of insanity!

*******

Ironically, for all my teaching and encouraging of creative and divergent thinking, every paper graded, no matter how original in thought, needed to be reduced to a number to fit in the damn gradebook! Oh, how I despised that!

I woke up Friday morning with numbers on my mind. An usual topic to find me, especially before sunrise! Bits of this post did tumble out. That’s why I keep a notebook and pen nearby. It is not uncommon for poems to nudge me awake at night, but this one took me by surprise, reconfiguring my brain, arranging words into numbers floating by. I know the source of the inspiration and it’s not another life direction. It was a man, often called Uncle Sam. U.S. taxes are due in three days, and I believe my mind was trying to shake off the words so I can focus on dollars and cents.

A special thank you to Humoring the Goddess for sharing my post, “Closer to the Sun.” A special surprise for me! I thoroughly enjoy her posts, that are rich in creativity, originality, and artistic content.

Thank you for visiting! Be well. 🧮 Michele

Photo 1: by Robsonphoto Photo 2: by Min C. Chiu.

© 2023 MyInspiredLife

83 thoughts on “Necessary Numbers (w/audio)”

  5. Oh, Michele, how meaningful this post was to me as a retired teacher. When I was in high school, choosing a teaching career was not considered “cool.” Years later, after working at many jobs, I found my way to teaching, even though it required several more years of schooling. I sincerely tried to like the accounting field that the university recommended to me because it could be completed in a year with the existing credits I had earned from eight years of night school.

    I found my twenty years of teaching fulfilling, Your lovely poem highlights a similar perspective to my own… some of the joys and some of the frustrations of teaching. One of my main frustrations was the required “teaching to the test.” If I were teaching now, I would be driven insane by Florida’s book bans in schools and public libraries and its so-called “don’t say gay.” laws!

    Thank you for your very relatable poem, beautifully presented! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. I am delighted! Thank you, Cheryl, for appreciating my post and for sharing part of your teaching story and for serving your community in a valued profession, albeit an uncool one. 😆 I am glad you found your teaching years fulfilling. I did too. I also understand the frustrations about “teaching to the test” and the many other uninspiring and unrealistic expectations placed upon teachers. I have learned that teaching can happen in so many ways, beyond the four classroom walls. I am grateful for that! 😁

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  7. Timothy Price

    My wife teaches math and English. When she taught algebra at the university, she had me help her grade assignments and tests. There was nothing quick or flashy about it. She requires her high school math students to do projects which require them to learn to read as well as write about the math they are learning. She’s never asked me to help grade English papers. But, no matter what one teaches, teaching four or five classes with 25 to 30 students in each class, grading is a lot of work.

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    1. Thank you to your wife for following the call to teach. I tease about the grading, but teaching math is most challenging! My “flashy” remark was written with a sarcastic pen and one of the reasons this post is categorized under humor, not that grading is a humorous subject, although it certainly can be. More sarcasm. Only thirty students… I wish! I typically had many more in one class, but I must agree, whatever the class count or subject, grading, when done thoughtfully and dutifully, is a lot of work. Thank you, Timothy, for sharing. 🙏🏻

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  11. Ironically, for all my teaching and encouraging of creative and divergent thinking, every paper graded, no matter how original in thought, needed to be reduced to a number to fit in the damn gradebook! Oh, how I despised that!

    Yes, I totally get that, Michele… I’m with you!

    ❤
    David

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    1. Thank you, Tom. Somewhat of a strange write, but I enjoyed the process. It was meaningful spending time thinking about a special teacher moment and challenging math classes. All described with words. 😁 If I had to write or solve complex equations at this point, I would be in trouble! 😆 I appreciate and value your feedback. Thanks!

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  13. So awesome post and Audio also so lovable with sweet voice 🤩 we can always happy because our mind is
    guiding us 🌹🙏♥️ but sometimes in our life , one person’s encouragement can change a life direction ,
    you are correctly wrote dear friend 💕👌😊 I also agree and like you wrote this article 👌😍grace wishes

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Much gratitude for you, sweet Thattamma. 💗 Thank you for listening and appreciating my early morning audio. 😁🙏🏻 Absolutely, yes, sometimes the belief and encouragement from one person can transform a life. ✨ We are here, in this life, to support and learn from each other. 💞 Wishing you and your family a healthy and uplifting week. 🤗

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  15. I struggled with math as a kid, and because of that, I have spent a good part of my childhood on it. In spite of that, I used to feel incredibly happy whenever I was able to solve math problems. This took me back. It’s a lovely post, Michele. As always. Listening to you read your beautiful writing is always a treat.😊😍

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    1. I am grateful for your share, Aaysid, and love learning that you persevered. 🙌🏻 This post took me back too… among many other things, I think this blog is a place for me to reflect on my years as a teacher and student. Often, we are so busy with life we don’t have/take the time to reflect on our experiences; doing so helps us grow. Sharing may help others grow. The benefits are there, whether it happens in a private journal or a public blog. 😁 Thank you for reading, listening, and appreciating! 🙏🏻💗

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  16. Once again, Michele, you and I are on the same wavelength. I, also, had an “experience” in high school which altered my life forever. I have absolutely no mathematical ability beyond basic math; it’s a fact of life and doesn’t bother me in the least. However, in my freshman year of high school it was traumatizing, I was a nervous wreck before entering the classroom and would get physically ill during class. It was all too much for me to comprehend. At some point my “condition” became unbearable for my teachers as well. The principal took pity on me and set up a meeting with my teachers and parents where it was decided I would be allowed to drop math and double up on English Lit. I have the dubious distinction of being the only student in my school to be allowed to drop out of math. I applaud the open-mindedness of my teachers and parents at that time; I can’t imagine what my high school days would have been like otherwise.
    My husband excels in math; he loves the fact that it’s all black and white with no wiggle room for grey areas. He’s also colorblind – truth.
    Please do not misunderstand – I can function just fine in life when math is necessary but my imagination thrives in the wiggle room. Black and white is perfect for piano keys, a zebra or a man in a tuxedo. I have the skills of a dreamer and my life is magically, brilliantly colorful.
    Thank you for this brilliantly written and very relatable, cathartic and colorful post! ❣️

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    1. Thank you, Nancy, for your multi-layered share! Many interesting points of discussion here! I am confident you and I could easily talk away the day about the many points your present. 🙏🏻 Your teachers/parents/administrators were open-minded, and it sounds like your school experience was better for it. No doubt, you do just fine without having completed higher level math… I don’t apply the concepts I learned in trig to my daily living. Or do I? 🤔😁 The comment about your husband’s affinity for math reminded me of a former administrator who had been a math teacher. His visits to our department meetings were brief; I think English teachers made him nervous/uncomfortable. 😆 Love your closing comments! 🦓 Thank you, Dreamer! 💖

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      1. My pleasure, Michele. Being a dreamer yourself, you can fully appreciate what I wrote.
        One thing that’s very interesting about my husband’s colorblindness: I noticed when we were changing the furniture in our living room that he would choose lamps or pillows simply because he liked them without any regard for the color scheme or pattern … and it worked every time! Being colorblind, he saw something different than I did and wasn’t influenced like I was. I thought that was fascinating.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Pooja! It’s a creative joy to write and share, made more meaningful when others find a connection. ✨ The subject of English is never short on grading, but the content does offer space for fun. Poetry, plays, great literature, oral presentations, writing… doesn’t get more fun than that! 😆🙌🏻

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    1. Oh no! 😂 You are an amazing photographer, so you have some knack for math. 😁 I am not surprised at all by your subject preferences; the three of them are in alignment with your life – traveling, visiting museums, and writing. That is a beautiful thing! Thanks for stopping by! Hope all is well with you. 😊

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  19. I was a math kid also. Always ahead of the class, doing stuff on my own, noticing patterns. Had one or two teachers who were capable of projecting how math was magical which helped me keep going. Finally near end of university life I switched gears, thinking yes math is beautiful, but I do not wish to define myself that way in adult life. Fun trying to teach it to my so, though. 🙂

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    1. Thank you for the comment! Inspiring teachers make all the difference, in my opinion and personal experience. I was fortunate to have knowledgeable and caring teachers sprinkled along my school path from elementary school through college. My college algebra professor was fantastic! I did well in math because I put in great time and effort, including visiting my trig teacher after school when needed. Being in band also helps! 😊 How wonderful that you enjoy teaching math to your son; not sure many parents feel that way. 😆

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  20. Seems the world is full of calculations no matter what path we take. I am glad you chose the path of creative and critical thinking. You will never know how that choice has changed the lives of your students forever.
    A great reading of the poem as well!

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    1. No doubt about that. It is amazing when you think about how numbers and words/language merge in the countless ways that they do, to keep society moving along, for better or worse. 🤔 Thank you so much for acknowledging my choice. I am glad too. Not a path lined with monetary riches, but a life-calling with meaningful rewards, as you know, being a teacher yourself. 🙏🏻 Thanks too, about the poetry reading. I hadn’t planned on reading this one, then I decided early Saturday morning that the piece needed to be read. It is an interesting process; it is only after I complete a poem/story that I get a sense for the need for audio, or not. It feels the writing decides for me. A wonderful process and artistic engagement. I love it! Best to you, Dwight.

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  21. This is interesting to read, because I was good with numbers at school and managed to scrape an A Level. Advanced maths was not for me, but I still keep all my own accounts – in fact, I’m somewhat obsessed with this!

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    1. I am delighted! It was an interesting topic to consider, reflect on, and write about. I quite enjoyed it! I am not at all surprised that you were (still are) proficient with numbers. You are also detail-oriented as an editor/publisher. I think numbers show up in poetry in ways that are not obvious. I do the same! 😁 Thanks, Ingrid!

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  23. Math was the death of me. But persevered enough to get through. Thank God for other gifts. Loved hearing your story. There’s always someone that believes in us which gives us the gifts and confidence we need to get us through. Loved your story Michele! 💞

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    1. Oh no! Well, good of you to persevere and make it to the finish line – just as much, if not more, value in that lesson. Thank you, Cindy, for listening to my audio and for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it! 🙏🏻💗

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  24. Wonderful post, Michele, and the audio was the icing on the cake. I also had a teacher in h.s. who gave me encouragement in singing. Without Mr. Perry, I wouldn’t have sung the solos I did back then. You may remember the story. And I love the Math vs. English! I did well in algebra, but geometry, ugh! Language Arts was my thing, and I’m glad you changed your path too so you can share your beautiful writing with us. 💗

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    1. Much gratitude to you, Lauren! Thanks for reading and listening and sharing such generous appreciation for my writing. 🙏🏻 Thank goodness for teachers like Ms. Nagy and Mr. Perry! I was blessed with many through the years. That is partly what motivated me to teach – to give back what had been given to me. School was my sanctuary. Have a beautiful evening. 💖

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  25. Oh no, not the invasion of NUMBERS! Ugh! 😝 What a wonderful recitation Michele my Belle. Yet, through the standardization of following the guidelines of what we think we must follow in life, we can’t overlook the value in our passion(s). All too often we aren’t encouraged to follow those desires, even if they don’t come with huge salaries. But thank goodness for being able to change directions once you realize that the path which seemed secure, was actually more of a liability long-term. Bless you for your motivation to give back to hungry minds!!! 👩🏼‍🏫😊💖🥰🏫 I know your students loved you! 🤗💖😘

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    1. Yes! I was seeing double digits! 😂 Thanks a million for listening, shimmy Kymmy! I appreciate you! You have eloquently articulated the path that many find themselves on… a “must follow” path. The most rewarding path is lit with passion, I’ve discovered. What a beautiful discovery! 💖 I fully supported and encouraged my artist daughter when she made that discovery while pursuing a different major in college. She’s blazing it now! ❤️‍🔥 You are most kind. Thank you. 🤗💗

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      1. Oh girlfriend, I truly understand exactly what you mean. I think somehow we are conditioned to take a safe approach whether we were okay with it or not. But now, we’ve graduated to lessons that are more papable and enjoyable. So here’s to our second wind in life! 👩🏼‍🎓🎓👩🏽‍🎓

        I think Sammi was very fortunate to have such an open-minded, forward-thinking mother. I applaud you for allowing her to pursue her passion and support her with the decisions she made and will make. Look at you Hot Mama!!! 🔥🥵🔥

        Now, I tip my hat off to you for giving yourself permission to be Mama Badass! I know that’s right! 😘🥂🤩💃🏼🥰💖✨

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  26. “I appreciate its sacred symmetry”—it wasn’t until a few years ago when my daughter’s teacher introduced this concept to me that I began to understand why numbers aren’t my enemy. I’ve never been quick to math and can’t help my kids with their math homework at all, but I now appreciate that some of my hatred of numbers came simply from my struggle to understand how it fit into the universe.
    Thanks for such a beautiful post!

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