Statistics and I have some unresolved issues. It rooted from the time when my Statistics teacher would just barge inside the classroom and tell us let to draw a Probablity curve. No, it's not the drawing activity that started the trouble. I love drawing. Well, not really drawing. I mean, doodling, or aimless drawing to be more honest. The trouble was, finding x in the curve. And most of the time I can't find my X.
I may have hated finding my X under the curve but I have learned some statistics lesson. One, the probability of you being struck by lightning is higher than winning a 6-digit combination in the lottery. No wonder, ever since in grade school, i have not won in any game of chance such the very common, raffle draw. I just ended up waiting eagerly, hands clasped, and then walked away with bare hands. Statistics must be correct!
Probability as a branch of Mathematics, teaches us that some events in our life can be quantified in its likelihood to occur. If you toss a coin, the Probability of getting a head is 50%. Your chances of getting a natural tan in the beach can now be predicted in percentage.
Probability as a tool makes us confident. It makes us calculate the risk in the table. It gives us a more informed decision.
But what about our life? What about the number of years in our lifetime? Can we find that under the Probability Curve?
When I was around 10 years old, I thought I kissed death already. It was a cold month of December when my family crossed the sea going to the scenic island of Siquijor. The sky was overcast. The wind was blowing hard. We were on board a small pump boat made of wood and bamboo. As we sailed, the creaking sound of the wooden parts grew louder as the big waves slapped mercilessly our boat. The smell of the sea crept in as it entered through the small, circular holes just above the floor. The loud banging of the wooden windows interrupted our silent yet intense prayers. The deep exhaling as the pump boat dived down, very abruptly, that sometimes, I felt it cannot make its way up, was terrifying. And how I wish at that moment I can float in the air so that I can help the boat go up. That lasted for an hour. And for that one hour of fear and paranoia my life just hanged by a thread.
We have heard two news of an untimely death just recently. One involving a Glee star, Cory Montieth, who died very young because of drug and alcohol overdose. And second, we mourn over the death of District 75 Trainer, TM Pat Pascua. She died from a high blood pressure. We saw, how alive she was when she conducted the training last July 20. Only four weeks had passed, and we lost TM Pat. Who would think it will happen?
And then we think of our own lives. How long can we live? How many days? How many months? How many years?
No one knows. Only Him. How I wish my statistics teacher can. How I wish I can plot my number of years under the Probability curve. How I wish I can just say, " I have 80% chance to survive today. It's a great day! Or "Oh no, I only have 10 % of surviving today. I should be extremely cautious." Unfortunately, Probability will not. Science will not. Our life, unlike X ,cannot be found under the probability curve.
Tomorrow is, but a promise. Today is what we have. Today is the best time of our life. Today is the best time to be kind to everyone. Today is the best day to help. Today is the best day to be happy.
There is no other day, but today. Live today like it's your last. Make it count. Life is not about taking chances. Life is about making things happen.
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