a short walk

And a little data…

We, as a society, seem obsessed with data. (Example: ObLITTERate’s YTD of miles and pounds).

Sometimes I think we can get overly focused on data and diminish our direct concentration on the work that matters most. For me, this is an example of the Centipede’s Dilemma. When tasked to count each step, the centipede couldn’t move.

Mostly, I’ve lost my allure for data. I recently journaled about it, writing:

Humans are uniquely data driven – Data is its own religion – I think we seek data for validation and judgement, holding us accountable – akin to a deity.

How can I let go of my attachment to data?

“How many miles did I run?” or “How many cups of water have I drank?”, instead of simply enjoying the jog or elixir of life without stressing over the performance or perfection.

Why do these things drive us?

Does it help to demonstrate actions with numbers to affect change? Today, I walked 1 mile and collected 3 pounds of litter, not far and not a lot. But if every 45-49 year old woman in the United States today chose to do this too, walking just one mile, we would have collected approximately 29.79 million pounds of litter collectively. The power of data?

Perhaps quantitative measurements are valuable or interesting. The quantitative methods course I narrowly passed in grad school would affirm this. But unless data is necessary, I prefer my focus to be in the action, and yes, actions add up.

No matter your age or gender, I hope you feel inspired to take a walk and collect some litter… maybe even some data. But don’t get caught up in how much, how far, or even how often; simply enjoy the experience!