I count myself a good judge of character. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's one of my major strengths. When I speak to people at work about issues that arise on cases, I'll often find myself starting with a character sketch of someone involved. I'm very aware of the tendency people have to formulate a view of themselves and then try to make their actions 'fit' that view - often with hindsight.
My view of myself includes a belief that I take a rational approach to life and that I am a sceptic. I am non-religious and I don't believe in non-rational things. I am not superstitious.
This week, my view of myself - in this respect and in others - has been tested. Not least by the fact that three separate shit things have happened this week: one related to work, one to family and one to community.
My mother always says that bad things happen in threes. Usually she says this after someone has recounted three bad things. It is not the sort of thing she would say after someone has recounted two bad things because she would not want the person she is conversing with to worry about the third not-yet-happened thing. She is a very thoughtful person.
I had a moment today - I had just gone through (again) with Mr T the Three Shit Things of the week - and I quite genuinely felt this sense of relief. I thought, that's three things - my run of bad luck is over.
It's funny how these ideas do implant. When I was about six years old, one of my friends told me that anyone who writes a "7" by putting a horizontal line through the middle of the veritical axis was a catholic. I've never quite shaken off that belief. To this day, if I see someone do that, I think catholic. Even when I do it. And I'm not a catholic.
Three and seven. Both significant numbers. Both elegant and mystical, even for rational, sceptical non-believers like me.
For the romance reader, the magic number is generally two; two protoganists finding their HEA. I shall put my threes and sevens aside again, pick up my brand new read (His Every Kiss by Laura Lee Ghurke (2004)) and forget my problems for the rest of the night.
T
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4 comments:
It sounds like you need a hug! It's awful when bad things strike all the different areas of your life at once -- no obvious refuge.
Superstitions may be baseless and nonpredictive, but they can accurately describe events. So here's hoping this particular superstition comes true for you this time.
*hugs*
A pun on being at sixes and sevens?
May that particular superstition about threes be retroactively true, just this once.
I hadn't heard the thing about 7s and catholics. I write my 7s with a line through but I'm not a catholic. Mum said it was a "computer 7" when I was younger and I adopted it to be a bit different. Now, if I write it without the little line it looks unfinished and I can't leave it - I don't think that's a superstition though - rather it's OCD!!
I thought quite a bit about superstition a while back when I wanted something to happen that was out of my control and I found myself rationalising - if this happens then that will be different from last time and maybe that will make a difference - it didn't of course, because I was just trying to control the uncontrollable and "tame" something that was essentially random. I know what you mean though. When 2 things go wrong, I'm madly trying to think of a 3rd thing that's already happened so that I can relax!!
Hopefully this week will be full of good things and not the rubbish of last week.
I hope next week improves!
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