Not that I’m superstitious, but sometimes I think it’s tempting fate to leave out a definition at the beginning of a blog post.
I actually don’t know how superstitious I am, even though I asked that question on Twitter last night.
I grew up in a family where it was considered bad luck to say anything positive about one’s situation — that attracted the evil eye. I rebelled against that pretty early on and this was a typical conversation when I was young:
Me: This is going to turn out great!
My mother: Don’t give a kanahora.
Me: That’s not the way it works, you know. What I say doesn’t affect the outcome.
And yes — what I said didn’t affect the outcome there. My mother, who was otherwise extremely logical and sensible, still felt compelled to say “don’t give a kanahora” when I said something too positive about the future.
I think most of us have little, automatic superstitions like that. I often witness people knocking on wood, talking about jinxing things, etc. This week in a therapy group, somebody expressed the fear that when things got too good, something bad was bound to happen.
I’m crossing my fingers that we all have a safe and happy Friday the 13th and that you enjoy my other images for today.
In honor of International Left Handers Day, this lefty is going to share a favorite song with you:
I am super grateful for every day and, also, for YOU!
The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally 
I consider myself sensible and logical. And yet I won’t walk under a ladder and should a black cat walk in my path, I clutch. I’ve been known to knock wood, throw spilled salt over my shoulder, kiss a slice of bread as I put it in the trash. If you asked me Are you superstitious? I’d respond, NO. Ha!
You are NOT alone, Ruth!
I was going to say I’m not superstitious, Ann, but then I realized that I will be more cautious today because it is Friday the 13th. And I do knock on wood, avoid walking under ladders, and think my cheering helps my sports teams on the field. So, yes.
Thanks for this answer, my super friend.
I’d say I am a bit, but overall not too much so. I love to cross my fingers, make up ‘if this happens, then it means that should happen” scenarios, etc. but I kind of consider it romantic optimism.
Super!
Some consider it unlucky to be the first to comment so I shall do exactly that, ’cause I am not suspicious and don’t believe in bad ………………………OW!
You were the fourth to comment!
I guess the Friday 13th curse is real!
I’m not superstitious. After all we southpaws were once called “sinister” and now we have our own day, which just happens to be Friday The 13th. I like stories of superstition, though, such as this one by the author William Tenn.
https://www.you-books.com/book/W-Tenn/My-Mother-Was-a-Witch
Super, super, super story, Chris. Many thanks.
I’m not ashamed to say that I’m superstitious … and if nothing happens on the 13th, I ask myself ,” I wonder what will happen on the 14th to make up for what didn’t happen on the 13th”. It has happened to me before- whether it’s coincidental or not doesn’t change the fact
Thanks for sharing this.
Kierkegaard’s concept of ‘leap of faith’ refers to a state in which a person is faced with a choice that cannot be justified rationally and he therefore has to leap into it. ‘A leap of faith’, is the act of believing in or accepting something outside the boundaries of reason. I love the phrase, simply because it’s neither religious nor philosophical.
Wiki says: “The phrase is commonly attributed to Søren Kierkegaard; however, he never used the term, as he referred to a qualitative leap. A leap of faith according to Kierkegaard involves circularity insofar as the leap is made by faith. In his book Concluding Unscientific Postscript, he describes the core part of the leap of faith: the leap. “Thinking can turn toward itself in order to think about itself and skepticism can emerge. But this thinking about itself never accomplishes anything.” Kierkegaard says thinking should serve by thinking something. Kierkegaard wants to stop “thinking’s self-reflection” and that is the movement that constitutes a leap.”
According to Brittanica: “For his emphasis on individual existence—particularly religious existence—as a constant process of becoming and for his invocation of the associated concepts of authenticity, commitment, responsibility, anxiety, and dread, Søren Kierkegaard is generally considered the father of existentialism.”
Thanks for another super interesting comment, Maria.
Does Joan ride in the stroller?
She does!