| The problem
with superstitions is that they aren't really clear enough. For
example it's unlucky to open an umbrella in the house. But is it
more unlucky to open a full-sized umbrella than it is to open one
of those mini fold-up ones? What happens if you walk inside with
an umbrella up and leave it up, is that ok? You get seven years
bad luck for breaking a mirror. If you pick up one of the pieces
and broke it, would you get an additional seven years or would you
be covered by the original seven years? If you broke three mirrors
in one day, would you get twenty-one years bad luck or would you
have three times as much bad luck each year for seven years?
Some people say a black cat crossing
your path is lucky (or unlucky depending on whether you learn towards
medieval Christian superstition or Egyptian Pagan mysticism). Would
a mostly-black cat with a white spot still be lucky, or does it
have to be all black? Can we reproduce th is effect by dyeing a
grey cat black? If you're blind does the luck still stand? What's
more, what constitutes your path? If you change direction, forcing
the cat to cross your path can you bring about good luck (or bad
luck if you're a negative thinker)?
If you spill salt it's unlucky, unless
you throw some over your shoulder (in the face of Old Nick, apparently).
Doesn't throwing it over your shoulder constitute additional spillage
or should you throw only the salt that you've just spilt? If you
walk backwards under a ladder, does that make it lucky rather than
unlucky? Finally would genetically-altered four leaf clovers still
bring good luck?
The answer of course must be that
all this is arbitrary and relative. None of these superstitions
are documented in any credible source. Most of them contradict each
other. So why not make up your own? Obviously don't bother making
up unlucky ones, just lucky ones. Make them easy to achieve, "If
I smile and a m pleasant to people I'll have great day" or
"if I step on the pavement, I'll go somewhere worthwhile today",
that sort of thing.
Think about it. You can choose whether
you have good luck or back luck in your life. It's what we call
'attitude'.
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