I have always liked numbers. There is something interesting about how a few numbers can tell us a story, reveal a pattern, or sometimes challenge what we thought was true.

And statistics, in particular, is much closer to everyday life than it may sound.

When we compare prices before buying something, look at an average steps we walked in the mobile app, or even wonder whether a restaurant with a 4.8-star rating is really better than one with 4.5 stars, we actually think about statistics in one way or another.

Many people hear the word statistics and immediately think of complicated formulas, equations, and difficult mathematics. I used to think about it that way too.

In fact, you do not need to be a mathematics expert to start understanding statistics. Of course, mathematics becomes useful when we go deeper, but the foundation of statistics is actually much simpler.

It is about learning how to think with data.

How do we summarize information?
How do we find patterns?
How can a small amount of data tell us something about a much bigger group?
And perhaps most importantly: how much should we trust the conclusion?

I started seriously teaching myself statistics while conducting my first research during my master’s degree. Along the way, I kept notes, searched for simpler explanations, made mistakes, went back to basic concepts, and gradually learned how the different pieces fit together.

I tried to think of statistics in the simplest way possible and noted down in my learning diary. This is not meant to be a textbook. It is simply a record of what I have learned, explained in the way I wish someone had explained it to me when I first started.

If statistics has always looked a little intimidating, I hope this learning diary can make it feel more approachable, practical, and even enjoyable.

More importantly, I hope we can turn the hidden stories behind data into meaningful knowledge – not drama. Welcome to Love Stats, Not Drama: My Statistics Learning Diary. I hope you enjoy the journey with me.