上班族必備軟實力

[Richard is an American who is lucky to be here in Taiwan.]

Americans have different superstitions than those in Taiwan. So, when we get here, it is shocking—the violations of faith-based safety. The things that are common sense to us are unknown here on the other side of the world. The citizens of Taiwan don’t realize what sort of calamity they are inviting.

First of all, the number 4 is not scary. 13 is a scary number. We even have a whole series of movies about it. In America, we laugh at number 4.

I have seen crowded sidewalks undergoing construction of some sort, and a ladder is set up. People just walk under it! They just stroll right past without a thought. I just want to scream, “What is wrong with you! You walked under a ladder!” If you have a death wish, then walk under a ladder. If you value your life and property, then avoid it. It is simple logic.

Walk under the ladder. I dare you.

People open umbrellas in the house all the time. They don’t care what happens to them. They will nonchalantly throw a hat on the bed and go about their daily lives as if all the forces of doom are not amassing against them. It is crazy.

There are many ways you can innocently invite doom. You can break a mirror or let a black cat walk across your path, and while you’re at it, you can whistle in a graveyard.

They say that superstition is believing in things that you don’t understand. I don’t understand that very well, but I believe it. Sometimes we need to explain things that have no scientific explanation. If we use our minds, we know that superstitions have no power in reality, but we don’t know it on the intuitive level, in our guts. We will do well if we just forget superstition and rely on our intelligence and intuition—knock on wood.

I will keep my fingers crossed until next time. Thank you for reading.