How to deal with superstitious friends
We all have that one friend who smirks in accomplishment after knocking twice on wood because they believe they have successfully escaped the wrath of the Devil by doing so. Other times, they may refuse to come out of the shelter of their homes if the calender merges "Friday" and "13" together or goes out of their way to not have to walk under a ladder if one falls in their path.
If you can't think of a single person in your life who has characteristics similar to any of those mentioned above, you're probably it. However, I'll proceed with the assumption that the superstitious person in question is an acquaintance or a friend. Hence, here is a list of pointers to help you better deal with them when needed:
DON'T MOCK OR LAUGH AT THEM
Even if some of the superstitious acts seem downright ridiculous to you, do not voice your disapproval to them. Especially if they're having a bad day. Trust me, you don't want to hear them justifying their actions for an indefinite number of hours or even worse, make you question your own sanity.
Moreover, laughing or mocking is being plain rude. Everybody should have the free will to believe what they want to without having to pay heed to constant criticism.
BE CONSIDERATE
If you are close with this person, you'll probably know a thing or two about what bothers them the most. If not, then you can always learn new things every time you meet them. However it may be, if you know something you do that disrupts their superstitious beliefs, try to avoid doing those when they are around.
For instance, the next time you have the urge to open up an umbrella indoors before leaving, consider not doing so in their presence.
JOIN IN WITH THEM SOMETIMES
I know this seems a bit hypocritical if you're the type who doesn't believe in superstitions, but joining in sometimes and giving them a sense of companionship can't be all that bad. If they're having a bad feeling about you and an act of simply tossing spilled salt over your shoulder helps make them worry less, then so be it.
These small gestures will show that you care about them regardless and will go a long way.
DON'T TRY TO CHANGE THEM
People are what they are. One of the worst things you can do to someone is try to change their choices just because you don't believe in it yourself. The simultaneous existence of multiple personalities and beliefs is what makes a few of us stand out from the crowd. Hence, learning to live in harmony and being more accepting is definitely a better choice than losing a friend entirely.
So at the end of the day, if tying their left shoelaces before their right or checking memes before a big game gives them a sense of good luck, then so be it. As far as we're concerned, an extra bit of motivation never hurt anybody.
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