Pluck this Day

   Today is Friday the 13th, 2012. Several of you may suffer from a severe phobia of this date, but what is it exactly that is at the root of this day. Pope Gregory XIII ordered the Catholic Church to adopt the Gregorian calender in 1582. This created a maximum of three Friday the 13th's a year.13 has been considered an uneven number based on the repetitive patterns of 12. 12 months in a year, 12 apostles of Jesus, 12 tribes of Israel and12 zodiac signs. However, what is the cause for all the superstition? Is it related to the Last Supper? Is it because Judas was the 13th guest to the supper? Or is is because of Norse mythology? Is it because Balder the Beautiful, was the target of a mistletoe tipped arrow that  struck down this god of Joy and Gladness? Loki, the mischievous god, was the 13th god to arrive at a party in Valhalla, he arrived uninvited and convinced another to kill Balder. Whatever the cause this superstition has become an epidemic, We all know that bad misfortune can find any of us at anytime.

   The simple idea that we have let this superstition take hold of our architecture and our daily activities is ridiculous. Y'all would be hard pressed to find a 13th floor on a building, gate at an airport or in some cases even a 13th building at an apartment complex.  Also, adding to this is a loss of business or more importantly persons failing to do everyday tasks on this day, due to Triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number 13. According to an interview with the founder of the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute, Donald Dossey in an interview with National Geographic. Dossey estimates that 800-900 million dollars are lost in business and commerce on this day due to people refusing to fly or conduct their routine business. This is a ridiculous idea to me. Knowing what poets have known for centuries and what Hollywood portrayed in Robin Williams character, John Keating in Dead Poets Society, "We are food for worms, lads, Believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing, turn cold, and die."  The rebel yell of this fictional classroom was "Carpe Diem" or pluck the day. The moral of this article is to follow in the footsteps of poets instead of superstitious persons.

   In 65 B.C. Roman poet, Horace wrote in "Odes" ,
Scale back your long hopes
to a short period. While we
speak, time is envious and
is running away from us.
Seize the day, trusting
little in the future.

  French poet, Charles Baudelaire tells us to "Be Drunk, Wine, Poetry or Virtue as you wish. But be Drunk"

  Walt Whitman, demands action, meaningful and full of vigor in his poem O Me! O Life, by answering a question asked of life "That you are here - that life exists, and identity;
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse".

  Rudyard Kipling speaks to us on how to be better, through the best collection of words in my opinion, "If"

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master;
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;

and finally Mark Twain tells us to stay away from "safety" by Sailing away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.  So in the event that misfortune is coming for you today, Do not be deterred or routed from your dreams. Love loud, Fight for Truth and Stand on top of your desk and scream with all intent "CARPE DIEM".