Of Math Tests and Emotional Relationships

There are two concepts that shake our lives and change them forever—Math Tests and Emotional Relationships. Although these two concepts may seem totally disconnected, I’ve just experienced a couple of events in my life that made me write about them. I want to put into perspective what I have felt recently.

Math Tests are all about stress, problems, and the unknown. We are scared of Math Tests because we are suddenly thrown into a dark jungle. We appear without a compass, without a guide, and we realize that it is up to us to find our path back into the light. We may study during the previous night. We may ask for thousand ways to solve a problem, but the truth is that for most of our academic experiences, the exercises/problems of Math Tests are rarely given to us beforehand. I guess it has to do with the fact that the most difficult problems in life are the unexpected ones. The ones that test you, frustrate you, but give you the chance to bring out the best in you.

Emotional Relationships begin as fairy tales. We are barely scared of them, since we have met someone who has the potential to rock our world. Obviously, we rather them than a Math Test for every minute we spend with a significant other is a time of discovery. Suddenly, you begin to lose sleep and realize you’ve being hit by the “L” word. The relationship continues, with its highs and lows, until you reach an outcome—either continuing with that person, or letting go.

Where is the link between Math Tests and Emotional Relationships? Their connection is based on one virtue—self-confidence. It is hard for us to believe in the fact that after all, Math Tests were never a competition against our teachers or family. Emotional Relationships that ended sourly were never a competition against your significant other. Math Tests are logical examinations that temper your character. Relationships are emotional journeys that temper your heart. They are opportunities to learn something we did not know about us. It doesn’t matter if we fail a Math Test, another one will come. It doesn’t matter that our hearts broke; a new magical person is just around the corner. In the end, the race is against us since we are the ones who learn from those experiences.

Next time you see a Math Test, do not worry about its outcome. The same applies to an emotional relationship. Do not be afraid of getting hurt. We may fail Math Tests. We may break up. In the end, we prepared ourselves. We discovered new things within ourselves. We gave our best for that exercise or for that other person. We suffered, we cried, we were disappointed. We recovered from the fall. In the end, we live…