Ever since Morgan Heritage released “Just A Number”,
I haven’t stopped for a day, to think of how we are all numbers in this world.
We are all just a number either in singularity or as a group.
We need to be asking questions why!
Photo credit: Carib Voxx
When you are born into this world (depending on given circumstances),
You will be measured and listed in terms of weight, skin colour, height etc. and assigned a “tracking number.”
Photo credit: JHU Hub – John Hopkins University
Its from there that the authorities where you are or live get to determine other things about you;
When you should start schooling, what kind of food you should be eating at a particular age, how many friends you have, which places you can visit etc.
Photo credit: UNICEF
If you are fortunate enough to be alive, wise and conscious,
You get to make something good of your earlier years in life, learning and schooling.
If that’s not the case, you may get yourself another number from your community as a criminal or a dead person.
What usually happens after that, though?
Photo credit: UNODC
For those who get into the world of “stable and consistently paying” work,
They get to be assigned word identity cards, social security numbers, bank account numbers, mobile phone numbers, motor vehicle registration numbers, residence and plot numbers etc.
Photo credit: Daily Monitor
Its from there that you get bracketed into a group that will earn a specific amount of money.
Instructions get passed down to you by somebody upstairs or downstairs and they too, get the same instructions from another person upstairs or downstairs.
Photo credit: World Bank
Should you be considered incompetent at anything you are doing,
The higher-ups get to highlight your number as a point of concern!
Many times, you will be “rewarded” with a punishment of any form from a demotion, reprimand, warning letter, jail time, fine, death, imprisonment etc.
Photo credit: NewsWeek
Should you be considered competent at anything or something you are doing,
The higher-ups will be so pleased with you that in most cases, will get to reward you something in a quantified form be it money or cars or a promotion or a house etc.
Photo credit: BigFish Benefits
Whew!
Are you still doubting if you are just a number?
I don’t think a lot of us even consider this. We just do things accordingly as to what we’re told. We need to change this in the next generation!
🙏🏽
When you really stop and think about it, all of us are just cogs in a gigantic, worldwide machine.
😭😭
I agree with this. I really do feel like I’m just a number some days.
😭😭
This is so true! From our social security numbers, our employee numbers, our driver’s licenses….we’re just numbers, in the grand scheme of things. But it’s up to us to give life a more deeper meaning!
👍🙏🏽
From birth to adulthood, it’s fascinating (and a little unsettling) how we’re constantly categorized. You’ve brought attention to something we should all think about more often!
👍🙏🏽
The phrase “Just a number” is really true, but it is on the surface. I think in the bigger picture, we are more.
👍🙏🏽
Your post on *Just A Number* is a powerful reminder that age is simply a figure and doesn’t define our abilities or worth. I love how you challenge societal norms and inspire others to embrace their individuality—thanks for sharing this important message!
👍🙏🏽
For women, the number they don’t like the most is age…especially in the latter years!
😃👍
This is a sad reality when we are treated as just a number. I realized during the pandemic that people are happier if there is only 1 death reported for that particular day but have we thought about what if that number is our loved ones? Are we still going to be thankful that it is just one?
😭👍