Ask someone why they think Friday the 13th is such an unlucky day, and chances are, they won’t be able to tell you. It’s inevitable that they will have had an unlucky event occur on that day, but unlucky events aren’t confined to the 13th; they occur all the time. It’s more that humans are predisposed to believe in things if they are repeated often enough. In fact, scholars can’t seem to agree on why exactly Friday the 13th is meant to be so unlucky in the first place.
Regardless of its actual origin, people continue to dread this day, going so far as to have developed a phobia known as triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number 13. But it’s important to keep anxiety over this date in check, as once a groundless fear takes hold of one’s psyche, it’s very difficult to root out.
So if your child has developed some nervousness about Friday the 13th, spend some time with her going over what her expectations are, and why she thinks something bad might happen. A little gentle reassurance and sober reflection will help her understand that not only is this day just like every other, but that she has more power over her destiny than she might think. So many of life’s challenges are surmountable by the power of positive thought, but so many of us are predisposed to negativity, reinforced by the sensationalist media. We see and hear of so many tragedies that we expect bad things to happen to us, and it’s that very expectation that actually seems to draw bad things.
Help your child free herself from the expectation of disaster, and you will help create a force for good for society. We’re all connected in subtle and powerful ways, and its time we take back Friday the 13th and remove its fangs!
