The bank account balance, the bathroom scale, the facebook “friends” and twitter “followers,” this blog’s visitors, my daily word count, google+ connections.

Pick a number. Any number between 35 and 1,650.  Chances are 1 in 231 you’ll guess one of the seven numbers which corresponds to the above list. Then you’ve got a 1 in 7 chance in matching the descriptor with the digits.

I have a  strange and complicated relationship with the symbols 0 -9. Put them in a certain order: they have the power to make my self-assessment positive and uplifting. Shift a couple around: disaster, devastation, depression.

Which is stupid because these values are always changing.

(The writing world has almost unanimously agreed that the word “always” should not be used in any form of writing. Although it’s a solid general guideline, I believe there are cases where the word “always” simply works. The above assertion of mine is one of those instances.)

So, I often ask myself: If any one number is bound to change — either up or down — why get hung up on the momentary display of it?

I suppose it has something to do with being human. Or American? Or a woman?

Or maybe it has to do with being me — someone who lets the ten first non-negative whole numbers mess with her head.

For those interested in a little game, here’s today’s list of seven:

35, 87, 145, 154, 536, 599, 1,650.

Good luck.