Numbers all around

“I pick them at random” scoffed a friend, “I don’t believe in any of these so called systems”.  Of course I’d heard it all before, so I simply asked him to give me six random numbers.  “Easy, Five,...” he started. I stopped him right there.  “Why did you pick the number five?” I enquired. “At random” he insisted with a hint of a sneer “because I like ‘five’”

That was enough to prove the point. He had picked ‘five’ because he ’liked’ it. So it wasn’t’ random. Choosing a number that he liked, automatically precluded numbers which he didn’t like, and meant each number could not be selected with equal likelihood.

The problem with trying to select random numbers yourself is that you have to ‘think’ about which numbers you are going to select. No matter how intelligent you are, you will not be able to block out your own prejudices.  In fact, the opposite is probably true, and an ape would be able to come up with a more representatively random set.

This is because numbers are all around us in our daily life. Your daily newspaper is brimming with numbers.  From your first glance at the clock in the morning to lying down and counting sheep at night, your life can not help but be filled with numbers.  So it is highly likely that at least one of those numbers will force itself into your consciousness when you set yourself the tasks of ‘thinking’ of numbers.

Sensitise yourself

Rather than fight it, my friend would have been better off taking more note of the numbers which were trying to push their way into his awareness – they could be trying to tell him something. And the same can apply to you.

1. Do you notice numbers in conversations?  If someone says they missed the 3 o’clock from Paddington and someone else says they have picked up three books from the library, make note of the repeated number three.

2. Take notice of numbers that ‘jumped’ out at your from newspapers. If a football player with a number nine on his shirt catches your eye, write it down.

3. Keep note of numbers that appear on tickets given to you, or receipts you collect.

4. Don’t ignore numbers related to irritation. If a train conductor gives you hassle, take a note of his number, not to complain but to enter in the lottery. If a car cuts you up at the roundabout, note down its number.

All of these numbers can be used on your lottery ticket. And as I said, they just could be trying to tell you something.

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