Picking Out My Super Power

 I was asked a question today about a superpower. If I could choose any superpower ever invented or one I could just make up at that moment, what would it be?

My first thought went to granting wishes. I mulled that over for a moment and thought, no, not super enough. I can already grant wishes. I have that power.

Sometimes it is in the form of a monetary donation to get something somebody needs badly or that would make their life easier, like a Hippocamp so that Lyndon can go hiking with his mom. Or maybe it is giving somebody a few dollars as a hand up. It could be by being part of a birthday flash mob, I bet that’s somebody’s wish. Or taking somebody to a place they’d never been.

I recall one time walking out to The Tickles from Harricott. There was a crowd of us, including Marg and Dot. I remember quite clearly Dot remarking that she’d been to California and New York and other places but The Tickles were right next door and she hadn’t been there. So going somewhere like The Tickles could be somebody’s wish and I could grant that.

I could have a stronger superpower than granting wishes that’s for sure.

So then I thought about having the ability to heal. That would be something. But, when I thought about that for a few moments, I realized, darn, I already have that. I can heal people. Listening to a lonely man who has no family around and keeping him company, that’s healing. Letting a friend vent when they are having a particularly bad day, that’s healing. Not judging somebody when they want to relieve a burden, that’s healing.

Laughing frustration away with a friend. Just laughing, for no other reason than to laugh. Bringing a lightheartedness with me, being the first on the dance floor when everyone else would have waited for four more songs before making the move but will happily follow you because you went first. Dancing and enjoying oneself is healing, making it happen quicker, that’s a superpower.

I can dance, I can sing if I was cornered (not very good but I’d make a noise), and I can laugh, and I can make time for somebody and I can lend an ear. Surely healing wasn’t a big enough superpower.

So, I chewed on that for just a moment before I thought of the greatest superpower of all, I would be like Jesus. Now that would be something. Walking on water would be a challenge but I don’t need that part of it. I can swim well enough and there is always a boat. Turning water into wine, neat thing to do, but I could buy wine or go make it out to Daphne’s so I could do without that. Besides, I’m not that into wine.

Being kind and compassionate would be the greatest superpower, like Jesus. I can do that. I’m sure I could look for ways to be kinder and more compassionate, it’s not that hard. It really isn’t. I remember walking by a donut shop and this young man was huddled by the door. It was cold out. I offered him a coffee. He said, "I'd prefer a latte." So, I laughed to myself at the boldness and bought him the .... yes, the latte. I offered so why not? If he was homeless and cold, the latte might have given him hope for something better. If he was pulling the wool over my eyes, it cost me a latte. No big deal.

Then I realized that I’m just full of superpowers. I’m super enough.

The world has given us the ability to cross over the land and the water and the air, to soar into the sky, to make anything we put our minds to, but wish-granting, healing, kindness, and compassion, that’s something we do. Look out world. Superpowers are in the house! Show off your superpower today.

Who needs to walk through walls or leap buildings in a single bound when you can make such a difference just be being kind.