I’m all for quantification. A lot of my life revolves around numbers, and it’s great. I’m using logic to fix the world’s biggest problems (massive hyperbole). Sound.
But does using numbers for my own life really make sense? Eh, forget numbers, what about lists? Time for a story:
I came across a tweet listing out qualities someone would like to see in their partner, and a lot of those qualities seemed really basic and, you know, achievable (?). This tweet was quote-tweeted with something along the lines of: you can only find some of these qualities in a partner [and not all], so pick wisely.
I don’t know, really. I think setting yourself such rigid boundaries for a decision that’s inherently emotional is just setting yourself up for failure. You’re not meant to always be rational (unless that’s literally who you are). Trying to be would just feel… inauthentic? Like a façade, as you’re just digging yourself a deeper and deeper grave by ignoring what you WANT, rather than just what you need.
No one’s perfect, and you have to accept everyone’s shortcomings. That may well be a terrible motivational poster or something someone says when you’re constantly coming up short, but it’s true.
Anyway, you’ve made your short list and you’re sticking by its all-knowing self. You’re scouring the world for years on end, looking for a partner who ticks every single box, never finding love, and eventually wondering where it all went wrong at 47.
Conversely, you accept that you’ll only find certain qualities from that list, “pick” those qualities, and end up backing yourself into a corner because your idea of a potential partner is now limited to the few traits you settled on. You find your person (they’ve met your listed criterion, yay!) and you’re happy. Well, you were happy until you realised you’re not the same person you were when you picked those qualities. You want something else. And again, aged 47, you’re wondering where it all went wrong.
So yeah. Quantifying stuff is cool because it simplifies your life—but what about all the nuance you lose?