As I mentioned in a previous post, I enjoy doing puzzles as part of my morning routine. Sudoku is one I particularly enjoy.
For those who are unfamiliar with it, the puzzle is made of a large 9x9 grid then divided into smaller 3x3 grids. The object of the puzzle is to place the numbers 1-9 in the individual cells so that each number appears once in each of the 3x3 sections in the larger grid and subsequently in each column and row.
The easier levels start with more numbers already filled in while harder levels begin with less pre-filled cells. Makes sense.
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| Sudoku, Learnings.AI Inc. (c)2018 |
I’ve recently made a connection between Sudoku and humanity.
As I begin to fill in the empty cells based on my notes, they start a chain reaction. For example, in the photo to the left, the pre-filled numbers are gray and the blue ones I filled in by process of elimination. The smaller numbers are possible entries for those cells, i.e., notes. If we look at the first cell of the third row, we can see only a 5 can fit there. When I click on that cell and place the 5 there, the other 5s in that 3x3 square and connected row and column will disappear. In this case, that will leave the 3 for the cell above and the 2 for the bottommost cell of that column. As I fill in those numbers, they too will disappear and trigger a chain reaction.
By process of elimination and occasional guesses, I complete most of the puzzles with few mistakes. The majority of my mistakes come from not switching back and forth between the “pencil” mode which allows me to write my notes and the regular mode where I enter my choice for the final answer.
With this global pandemic of COVID-19, I have come to see a connection between humanity and the numbers in Sudoku.
If we follow a simple monetary transaction, we can see this. But, for this example I'll have to use old fashioned money. Not plastic or the e-stuff, but the real bills and coins. I know, who really uses it anymore? Think how often a simple piece of currency can change hands. What till did you get it from? Who gave it to that cashier? What did they last touch and how long ago did they wash/sanitize their hands? Who will you pass it on to? Think of all the other germs and bacteria that one bill carries. Now think of everything you touch during the day, particularly door handles, cash machines, public restrooms, etc. which gets added to the bill. I wish there was a way to sanitize our money, like literally laundering it legally.
This reminds me of an episode of "I Love Lucy." In the episode, Bonus Bucks, a local newspaper is running a contest. They are publishing serial numbers of dollar bills with prizes of various amounts of money. Ricky comes home with a winner worth $300.00 and slips it into Lucy's purse while she's sleeping. Meanwhile, she had gone through all her bills earlier that day. The next morning, she pays the grocery delivery boy with the bill who then gives it to Ethel, Lucy's landlady and best friend, in change who comes up yelling she found a Bonus Buck. Ricky then explains what he did and everyone soon realizes it's the same bill. Hilarity ensues as both couples claim ownership and typical Lucy antics prevail, including a trip through Speedy Cleaners. Literally. In one short time frame, barely 10 minutes in real life, a dollar bill passes through three hands. Five, if you include Ricky and whoever gave it to him the night before.
While contracting the virus by coming in contact with a contaminated surface is becoming less likely, though still possible, the number of times a single piece of currency changes hands shows how connected we are without realizing it. Now, let's think about all the people we would come in contact with during a typical pre-lockdown day. We might kiss our family members good-bye and head off to school, work or errands. We'd chat with co-workers, cashiers, friends, neighbors, the letter carrier, FedEx or UPS deliveryperson, the server or barista where we stop after work. We might even casually talk with other shoppers at the market while picking up some last minute things for dinner. The vast majority of studies show the coronavirus is primarily spread via airborne particles so all of this close contact was putting us within range for it to infect us. Now we need to practice social distancing to slow down the spread.
With the onslaught of pushing to reopen the economy, haven't we overlooked one important factor? A healthy, robust economy depends on a healthy, robust community. Businesses do need to survive, I get it. But, for that to happen, don't customers and workers need to be healthy in order to shop or work? Or at least alive?
I totally understand we want to get back to normal. Or what we perceived was normal. We may have a new normal, at least for a while until we get a better understanding of this virus and its behaviors so we can learn to better manage it and to understand its potential long-term effects in order to establish a new sense of 'normal.' Whatever that may turn out to be.
Change is hard. The more we are forced to change, the more we resist because it is harder and scarier to accept because it's not our choice. But, with change comes the opportunity to grow and growth can trigger pain. Who likes pain (besides those into BDSM)? Though here I'm talking about emotional pain.
We may have to let go of what was comfortable and try something new. It's like trying on a new pair of shoes because our favorite pair has worn out. The sole has worn through, the heel may have worn down or broken, it's time for them to go. The new ones may cause some blisters, some soreness, or some pinching until they're broken in. But, eventually they do and we get used to them.
I believe we are all in this together. Unfortunately, many people don't see it that way. It's all about them. They need a haircut or a mani-pedi. And they need it now with no regard for the health and safety of others. Or, that's how it appears to me.
As we engage with others, we aren't sure of where they've been. Who were they with last? How long ago? They could be a- or pre-symptomatic possibly infecting others without knowing they even have the virus. Can wearing a mask be that troublesome? Can showing compassion for others be so difficult? Who cares if your roots are showing?
I understand this has created some inconveniences for many people. We can't eat out with friends in restaurants or hang out in bars like we used to. We can't, or shouldn't, get together with family members who don't share our household like we used to. We can't travel for leisure like we used to. We can't go shopping for fun. We can't go to entertainment venues. While I don't mean to trivialize anyone's suffering, others throughout history have fared far worse: the Africans who were kidnapped and sold into slavery; all who were imprisoned in the concentration camps in Germany, Italy, Southeast Asia and the United States during WWII; those who suffered through the Cambodian, Armenian and other genocides; the indigenous cultures around the world enslaved by conquering nations sometimes in the name of religion.
I view what we are currently experiencing as inconvenient. Yes, it is difficult at times. Yes, it is frustrating. Yes, I am tired of it. But before anyone thinks I mean to trivialize or view the above atrocities as mere 'inconveniences', I do not. They were beyond horrible, despicable, appalling, I can't even find enough words. Yet, we have more distractions to help us get through this; books, music, smartphones, the internet and all that comes with it, the freedom to at least walk in our neighborhoods, the ability to shop when absolutely necessary, the freedom to just get in our cars, if we have one, and go for a drive. They did not have such luxuries.
As I said, I believe we are all connected. The money transaction is a small example of that. Yet, I also believe that as a human race, we are all connected in a greater sense as children of the Universe, or God, and we need to treat each other with more compassion. I also believe that on a higher level, a spiritual one-if you will, we are connected there as well. For that reason, I have included a link below to one of my favorite songs from Cher's 2001 largely under-appreciated album, Living Proof.
If we follow a simple monetary transaction, we can see this. But, for this example I'll have to use old fashioned money. Not plastic or the e-stuff, but the real bills and coins. I know, who really uses it anymore? Think how often a simple piece of currency can change hands. What till did you get it from? Who gave it to that cashier? What did they last touch and how long ago did they wash/sanitize their hands? Who will you pass it on to? Think of all the other germs and bacteria that one bill carries. Now think of everything you touch during the day, particularly door handles, cash machines, public restrooms, etc. which gets added to the bill. I wish there was a way to sanitize our money, like literally laundering it legally.
This reminds me of an episode of "I Love Lucy." In the episode, Bonus Bucks, a local newspaper is running a contest. They are publishing serial numbers of dollar bills with prizes of various amounts of money. Ricky comes home with a winner worth $300.00 and slips it into Lucy's purse while she's sleeping. Meanwhile, she had gone through all her bills earlier that day. The next morning, she pays the grocery delivery boy with the bill who then gives it to Ethel, Lucy's landlady and best friend, in change who comes up yelling she found a Bonus Buck. Ricky then explains what he did and everyone soon realizes it's the same bill. Hilarity ensues as both couples claim ownership and typical Lucy antics prevail, including a trip through Speedy Cleaners. Literally. In one short time frame, barely 10 minutes in real life, a dollar bill passes through three hands. Five, if you include Ricky and whoever gave it to him the night before.
While contracting the virus by coming in contact with a contaminated surface is becoming less likely, though still possible, the number of times a single piece of currency changes hands shows how connected we are without realizing it. Now, let's think about all the people we would come in contact with during a typical pre-lockdown day. We might kiss our family members good-bye and head off to school, work or errands. We'd chat with co-workers, cashiers, friends, neighbors, the letter carrier, FedEx or UPS deliveryperson, the server or barista where we stop after work. We might even casually talk with other shoppers at the market while picking up some last minute things for dinner. The vast majority of studies show the coronavirus is primarily spread via airborne particles so all of this close contact was putting us within range for it to infect us. Now we need to practice social distancing to slow down the spread.
With the onslaught of pushing to reopen the economy, haven't we overlooked one important factor? A healthy, robust economy depends on a healthy, robust community. Businesses do need to survive, I get it. But, for that to happen, don't customers and workers need to be healthy in order to shop or work? Or at least alive?
I totally understand we want to get back to normal. Or what we perceived was normal. We may have a new normal, at least for a while until we get a better understanding of this virus and its behaviors so we can learn to better manage it and to understand its potential long-term effects in order to establish a new sense of 'normal.' Whatever that may turn out to be.
Change is hard. The more we are forced to change, the more we resist because it is harder and scarier to accept because it's not our choice. But, with change comes the opportunity to grow and growth can trigger pain. Who likes pain (besides those into BDSM)? Though here I'm talking about emotional pain.
 |
| Three of Swords, Radiant Tarot |
I believe we are all in this together. Unfortunately, many people don't see it that way. It's all about them. They need a haircut or a mani-pedi. And they need it now with no regard for the health and safety of others. Or, that's how it appears to me.
As we engage with others, we aren't sure of where they've been. Who were they with last? How long ago? They could be a- or pre-symptomatic possibly infecting others without knowing they even have the virus. Can wearing a mask be that troublesome? Can showing compassion for others be so difficult? Who cares if your roots are showing?
 |
I view what we are currently experiencing as inconvenient. Yes, it is difficult at times. Yes, it is frustrating. Yes, I am tired of it. But before anyone thinks I mean to trivialize or view the above atrocities as mere 'inconveniences', I do not. They were beyond horrible, despicable, appalling, I can't even find enough words. Yet, we have more distractions to help us get through this; books, music, smartphones, the internet and all that comes with it, the freedom to at least walk in our neighborhoods, the ability to shop when absolutely necessary, the freedom to just get in our cars, if we have one, and go for a drive. They did not have such luxuries.
As I said, I believe we are all connected. The money transaction is a small example of that. Yet, I also believe that as a human race, we are all connected in a greater sense as children of the Universe, or God, and we need to treat each other with more compassion. I also believe that on a higher level, a spiritual one-if you will, we are connected there as well. For that reason, I have included a link below to one of my favorite songs from Cher's 2001 largely under-appreciated album, Living Proof.
Ultimately, we only have control over ourselves. I try to have compassion for others. Some individuals make it harder; like those who treat life as normal. "If I get sick, I get sick." "If you die, you die. My life will go on." Their decision to push for normalcy has made it harder on others who have underlying health issues forcing them to make even further restrictions on their lives. For this reason, I do my part to keep myself, my family and friends from getting sick and ultimately overrunning the medical community and health care system, as well as giving the experts more time to better understand this virus in order to develop ways to control it, or if possible, ultimately eradicate it. I see this as for the greater good for all.
But, I can't force anyone to see things my way.
Unfortunately.
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