So yesterday I’m walking past a store, right? And there’s this big fat “45” on the clearance sign. Weird, but whatever. Later at the coffee shop, my latte costs exactly $4.50. Then I check my phone – battery at 45%. Seriously? Three times in one morning? Felt like the universe was trolling me.
My “45 Tracking” Experiment
Grabbed an old notebook and started jotting down every time I saw that damn number. First day: caught it 8 times. License plates, page numbers, oven timer – everywhere. Day two it happened while walking my dog: a truck with “45” painted on the side drove past my regular sniffing spot. Okay, this is officially creepy.
Started digging online about number patterns. Found this thing called “frequency illusion” – basically your brain starts noticing stuff more once you’re aware of it. Like when you buy a red car and suddenly see red cars everywhere.
What I Actually Did About It
First, made a dumb spreadsheet logging every 45 sighting for a week. Tracked three things:
- Where it happened (burger joint, gym locker)
- My mood then (rushed, tired, chill)
- Context (random digits, prices, measurements)
Surprise – 62% happened when I was stressed or distracted. Turns out I’m basically ignoring hundreds of other numbers daily.
Tried this dumb challenge: for every 45 I spotted, I had to immediately spot two other random numbers. First try? Saw exit 45 on the highway, then forced myself to notice a “17” on a billboard and “89” on a price tag. Felt ridiculous but kinda worked.
Why This Actually Matters
Here’s the kicker – started paying attention to how often I notice other repeating stuff. Like constantly checking emails when anxious, or doomscrolling when tired. The 45 thing was just my brain’s annoying way of waving red flags about my zombie autopilot habits.
Now when I catch a 45? Instead of freaking out, I use it as my personal “wake up” alert. Check my posture, take a breath, maybe sip some water. Last Tuesday saw it on a receipt right before snapping at my kid about homework. Paused, laughed at myself, totally changed that conversation.
Still see 45 everywhere though. Old habits die hard.