Math and I have never been friends. I’ve struggled with it from an early age, and, throughout school, I had straight A’s in everything but math. It was enough of a concern for me that I chose not to take math in grade twelve for two reasons; first, because I was pursuing English and didn’t need math as a requirement course; second, because I knew it would destroy my graduating average and hinder any possibilities of earning scholarships.
I’m okay with basic, or simple math, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Anything past this degree of mathematics had my head spinning and still does, and I am convinced fractions will be the death of me.
Unfortunately, math happens to exist in farming, and seeing as that is the bulk of the work I am now doing, I’ve come to the realization I can’t escape it and must deal with it to the best of my ability. Thank God for calculators.
Despite my struggles with math, I decided a little while ago that I was going to begin putting more effort towards actually improving my skills. I figured it would benefit me if I tried my hardest to refrain from using a calculator whenever possible, and while I’ve always had a hell of a time doing math ‘in my head’ (I have my suspicions for this as well, but that’s for another post), I’ve been forcing myself to try. Sometimes I’m successful and sometimes I’m not, but the fact that I am at least trying is what matters most.
Some of us are under the impression that once we reach adulthood, we’re incapable of learning new skills. While this is a tempting thought, it’s bullshit in its meaning, and there is absolutely no age limit when it comes to learning. We can always absorb more, even if we’re feeling soaked.
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
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