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    • The number 43 brings student hope in tough times

    Abstract:
    When I was about 12 years old, I developed an instinctive nature to glance at the clock at 10:43 and wake up without an alarm at 6:43 a.m.

    I overlooked the number at first, claiming it was a coincidence. However, when I purchased an item and received 43 cents in change or my tax cost me an additional 43 cents, I stopped complaining about the sound of loose change in my pocket and the outrageous tax rate of 8....

    • Displaying 1 - 25 of 25

    AJ Landa

    posted 4/03/08 @ 1:03 PM CST

    While waiting on a colleague this morning, I decided to breathe some life into those minutes by reading Sophia's 43 article on my phone... As I was reading, my colleague arrived and tried logging me into a website... The error message we got was #40003.

    Later, I printed the article to share with my colleague, and afterwards told him the story of 43. As I recounting the legend, our first student finished testing. We recorded the time... It was 10:43.

    As one of the "friends with the 43 tattooed", I can vouch for 43 and say it's less about the number, and more about the effects on its witness; the momentary inspiration, or the confidence instilled overtime. When things are good, 43 is a light bulb. A little surprise. A cherry on top of your day. And when things are rough, it's a reminder of hope. A reason for faith. A drop of water in the desert sun... But on any given day, 43 is something constant in a world where nothing stays the same very long, and where everything else comes and goes...

    Cheers to Sophia for sharing the legend so eloquently...
    And thanks to the editors for having it printed...
    Maybe 43 will impact others, the way it has me.

    43.
    Post a reply to this comment

    Rachel Slade arts & life editor

    posted 4/04/08 @ 1:52 AM CST

    Glad you enjoyed it. As an extra tidbit: It just so happens that it printed on 4/3 in the 43rd issue of the paper this semester.
    Post a reply to this comment

    Kyle

    posted 4/03/08 @ 10:58 PM CST

    Heck yea. President Bush is the 43rd president!!!! :-)
    Post a reply to this comment

    havok

    posted 4/04/08 @ 2:28 PM CST

    I have the same thing with 27, my girlfriend 11, my brother 7...I hope you see my point. I think its in your head. =) Good article though.
    Post a reply to this comment

    Sophia Shah

    posted 4/04/08 @ 2:32 PM CST

    Originally posted by

    havok

     I have the same thing with 27, my girlfriend 11, my brother 7...I hope you see my point. I think its in your head. =) Good article though.


    I know almost everyone has their "own" number... but it's the significance about the number. Not only the 43 in itself, but the abstract idea.
    :)
    Post a reply to this comment

    Iris Love-Hiltz

    posted 4/04/08 @ 3:30 PM CST

    My own number phenomenon started my freshman year here, in 2004. Mine is 911...I think it's creepy, lol. I almost ALWAYS look at the clock when it is 9:11, morning or evening. Haven't looked at the clock for hours, have no clue what time it is...it freaks me out. In a way, it comforts me, because it is a reminder of some sort. What creeps me out is the number itself, considering its significance to 9/11. I didn't know anyone closely involved with 9/11, but for some reason, that number chose me. It's pretty cool though. Is there a term for this phenomenon...is it the same thing as the 23 enigma? Hmmm...definitely something about...even more than I already did, now that I know other people experience it too. :)
    Post a reply to this comment

    Nrupaal Mody

    posted 4/05/08 @ 3:22 AM CST

    Nice article! Keep it up.
    Post a reply to this comment

    Jason M. Hart

    posted 4/26/08 @ 6:02 PM CST

    Odd, I have the same number, and the significance really freaks me out too. For about the last three years, everytime I look at the clock it just happens to be 9:11. It is kind of cool, I just wish it was a different number!

    Originally posted by

    Iris Love-Hiltz

     My own number phenomenon started my freshman year here, in 2004. Mine is 911...I think it's creepy, lol. I almost ALWAYS look at the clock when it is 9:11, morning or evening. Haven't looked at the clock for hours, have no clue what time it is...it freaks me out. In a way, it comforts me, because it is a reminder of some sort. What creeps me out is the number itself, considering its significance to 9/11. I didn't know anyone closely involved with 9/11, but for some reason, that number chose me. It's pretty cool though. Is there a term for this phenomenon...is it the same thing as the 23 enigma? Hmmm...definitely something about...even more than I already did, now that I know other people experience it too. :)
    Post a reply to this comment

    David A. Lucio

    posted 4/05/08 @ 3:25 AM CST

    #25 here.

    43 rocks my socks though, and I still can't believe you found on on my random ass shirt. I believe in your phenomenon Sophia, because we all have our own impact outwardly on others through some obscure numeric value.

    Most guys have "their number," generally related to some sport they did...who knows when. Girls adapt numbers for similar reasons (though generally not as die hard).

    Something that occurs to me is that the closer you get to a person, the more THEIR number become prevalent to you. It's astonishing really, and at the same time just plain comforting.

    So maybe someday you'll see 25, and think "aww david" or I'll see 43 and remember you. Whatever the case may be, it will comfort us and free us from the shackles of the norm.
    Post a reply to this comment

    AJ Landa

    posted 4/05/08 @ 12:53 PM CST

    Originally posted by

    David A. Lucio

     #25 here.

    "Something that occurs to me is that the closer you get to a person, the more THEIR number become prevalent to you... It's just plain comforting... So maybe someday you'll see 25, and think "aww david" or I'll see 43 and remember you..."


    I like this, David. And I agree... An encounter with a friend's number does have a way of making you feel closer to them, which can be comforting.

    Another phenomenon I've stumbled across is two numbers appearing together as you get closer to someone. For example, my number is 12... And more and more frequently I saw 12 & 43 together (or somehow linked), as Sophia and I became better friends. It's just another of life's mysteries....
    Post a reply to this comment

    David Sindt

    posted 4/07/08 @ 6:52 PM CST

    I glanced at the clock sitting beside my bed after reading this article and what did I see? It was 43 minutes past the hour. Seriously.
    Post a reply to this comment

    AJ Landa

    posted 4/14/08 @ 9:20 PM CST

    Originally posted by

    David Sindt

     I glanced at the clock sitting beside my bed after reading this article and what did I see? It was 43 minutes past the hour. Seriously.


    The same thing happens to me, about 6 times a day...
    And each time, the same people come to mind...
    Post a reply to this comment

    Sophia Shah

    posted 4/09/08 @ 6:30 PM CST

    Currently, there are 76 members in the 43 group! :)
    Post a reply to this comment

    Ximena Ramos

    posted 4/10/08 @ 9:38 PM CST

    This is a very interesting article. This does sometimes happen to me, but with the number 24. To be more specific, May 24. On that day, my cousin was born, my parents met, I received my first communion and several other important events. It is very refreshing and inspiring that something as simple as a number can bring you happiness and comfort. We all should have something like that.
    Post a reply to this comment

    Joe Tessler

    posted 4/19/08 @ 12:01 AM CST

    It truly is amazing how powerful one number can be. A single blink of 43 can alter the entire course of a day. The seemingly simple integer has such a powerful undertone that it truly does make one "feel they are free from skepticism."
    Not only does Sophia strongly embrace this number as fact, she spreads the smiles and joys these two digits carry through her beautifully eloquent writing style.
    Post a reply to this comment

    Jamie B

    posted 4/24/08 @ 4:32 PM CST

    This is definitely an awesome article, and a far more awesome concept. I really like 43. I really do see it everywhere, and I think everyone can if they look. :)
    Post a reply to this comment

    Douglas Adams

    posted 4/26/08 @ 4:51 PM CST

    42.
    Post a reply to this comment

    Patty

    posted 5/09/08 @ 7:15 PM CST

    This is definitely weird, its to the point its driving me crazy, I see the #43 every day, on license plates, receipts, address,clock, my receipt today was #43, charge was $13.43, what is this trying to tell me? why this #? Is been going on about 3 weeks now I see this number everywhere.
    Thanks
    Post a reply to this comment

    Sophia Shah

    posted 5/11/08 @ 2:46 PM CST

    Originally posted by

    Patty

     This is definitely weird, its to the point its driving me crazy, I see the #43 every day, on license plates, receipts, address,clock, my receipt today was #43, charge was $13.43, what is this trying to tell me? why this #? Is been going on about 3 weeks now I see this number everywhere.
    Thanks


    When people tell me this, I tell them to look at it as a positive thing, not as anything creepy. As uncanny as this will sound, if things are going rough, seeing a 43 will put things in perspective to know and believe that everything will be okay.
    At least for me.
    Post a reply to this comment

    Abigail Thatcher

    posted 5/16/08 @ 7:30 PM CST

    I'm like David and a few others on here (not to mention like Sophia). I have a number that I absolutely love. Mine's 17. There are many memories and many important things in my life tied to 17 and I love it more than I can possibly describe. Sophia, I hope 43 people comment on this column. :D
    Post a reply to this comment

    Marisa

    posted 10/21/08 @ 1:42 AM CST

    When my sister was about 14 years old she saw this everywhere, that was when things started getting bad for our family and went downhill ever since. After she told me about it i saw it everywhere too. Ever since i was 10, and she was 14 we've seen it every single day and didnt know what it meant.
    this article was very liberating.
    it seems that everything that happens to me or my sister always has 43 in it, and now it all makes sense. for 6 years this went on and im so happy i decided to finally search it
    :)
    Post a reply to this comment

    petrit

    posted 6/05/09 @ 12:29 AM CST

    I strongly appreciate this idea that numbers bring luck. I have nr.24 in my live. In faculty I was number 24,I graduated on date 24 and I passed driving licence on date 24. This are only the few cases that happened with 24. I really was interested about this number to know , and searched in internet.
    Post a reply to this comment

    Rick

    posted 6/24/09 @ 4:01 PM CST

    hey, I've been seeing 43 everywhere, everyday, and on different things everyday too like clocks and the timer on my cd player. Sometimes it shows up on the clock as 4:30-somthing or something-43 or even 4:43 and other times with the number 1 in front of it, which is also the number of my address. I came to this site just a little bit after seeing the number twice in about 3 seconds- once on my cell phone's clock and again on my cd player's timer. I've been a little paranoid about it cause I smoke and I keep on thinking I'm going to be 43 when I die. Anyway, sorry for boring you, anyone who gets bored reading this. Just wanted to connect to someone about this.
    Post a reply to this comment

    David R

    posted 9/04/09 @ 4:17 PM CST

    Ever since my aunt and my father n law has passed away in 2008 i have encountered this number a numerous amount of times it seems like every time it turn to look at the clock its either 143, 1043, 1143, 1243, 643, 843,ect.One day my friend gave me an alarm clock and on the box it showed the time of 11:43 now how does that happen 99.7% of the clocks you buy in the store say 12, 1208, 10, 9, 915, but never have i seen one with the number 43 in it till that day. One day i go down town to pay a citation for expired tag and what a coincidence my number to be called was 43, i even see it driving down the road on license plates at this point i really started to believe this is happening for a reason but still haven't come to a conclusion of why this is happening to me. Another incident i lost the radiator cap going down I75 had to make an emergency stop at walmart off colonial and six mile went in to get a universal cap and the radiator caps were located in the aisle 43 this number is everywhere and it is still remains a mystery!!!
    Post a reply to this comment

    AJ Landa

    posted 9/09/09 @ 4:54 PM CST

    Originally posted by

    David R

     Ever since my aunt and my father n law has passed away in 2008 i have encountered this number a numerous amount of times it seems like every time it turn to look at the clock its either 143, 1043, 1143, 1243, 643, 843,ect......


    THANKS FOR SHARING DAVID.. I ENJOYED HEARING ABOUT YOUR ENCOUNTERS WITH 43.
    Post a reply to this comment
    • Displaying 1 - 25 of 25

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