What would you do to get the superpower of your dreams?

It might be easier than it seems.

The other night I was watching a silly show called Extraordinary. It’s a cringy comedy about a group of young adults living in London in a world where everyone has extraordinary power. It opens on a street scene where people fly through the sky, light cigarettes with their fingers, and lift cars with one hand.

We then zoom in on a few characters with more unusual powers. One can channel the voices of the dead, another can reverse time, and it is with some irony that one character has the power to remove the filter between what a person is thinking and what they are saying. She interviews job candidates for a living.

The protagonist has yet to find her power. In this made-up, madcap world, people are supposed to get their power on their 18th birthday. She is still waiting.

It got me thinking, if I could have any superpower in the world, what would it be?

I’m short so the ability to stretch my arms would be amazing. I wouldn’t have to climb up on the kitchen counter to find ingredients hidden behind the top shelf. But then, I wouldn’t meet all the nice tall people on the plane who help me with my bags.

Eat any food I want and not gain a pound? Imagine if I could eat pizza every day. Is it possible that I would tire of the exhilaration of selecting the perfect triangular piece of sizzling yumminess, lifting it out of the box, and taking that first gooey, cheesy bite? Not possible.

What about the ability to be in two places at once? My family is sprinkled across the country. If I could attend a birthday party on the East Coast at the same time my son is performing at a concert in Chicago, I could experience the excitement of both. But then I might not be fully present at either.

How about the ability to jump back in time? I could take walks with my dad, who died several years ago, and ask him how I could do a better job balancing my work and my personal life. I suppose, however, then, I wouldn’t gain the learning from figuring it out myself.

What is it about superpowers that fascinate us?

Our curiosity can be traced back to ancient mythology and folklore, where gods and other mythical beings were bestowed with extraordinary abilities and powers. The Greeks had gods like Zeus who could control lightning, Venus with her divine beauty, and Apollo who shined like the sun.

In more recent history, the concept of superheroes and superpowers began to gain popularity in the early 20th century with the rise of comic books. Characters like Superman, who could fly, had super strength, and x-ray vision, captured the imaginations of readers and sparked a cultural phenomenon. This was followed by the creation of other iconic superheroes such as Spider-Man, Batman, Wonder Woman, and many more, each with their unique powers and abilities.

The fascination with superpowers continues with the success of superhero movies, TV shows, and other forms of media that feature characters with extraordinary abilities. The appeal, I think, lies in their ability to inspire hope, courage, and the belief that we can rise above our limitations and make a positive impact on the world. It taps into our deepest desires for control, freedom, and the ability to transcend the ordinary.

But don’t we do that every day?

Consider the amazing powers of the Juggler? She is a single mother who has to manage her job, help her kids with their erupting volcano science project, and supply perfectly quartered orange slices as snacks for the soccer game.

How about the Sandwicher? The amazing multi-generational caretaker who can help their aging parent navigate an iPhone while at the same time ensuring their young adult son that it is perfectly normal for a newborn baby’s face to turn red when he poops.

And what about the resilient Romantic? That poor soul who repeatedly has had their heart broken and still finds the courage to get back online and start swiping again?

Every day, these garden-variety humans, dig deep and show up. For themselves, their families, friends, and communities. They demonstrate the inherent superpowers of being human - creativity, empathy, and adaptability. They don’t have capes, wear tights, or have been born with a mutant gene that shields them from crying when they cut onions.

They are just like us.

Making it through our day, doing the best we can.

So, if you want to tap into your superpower, it’s easy.

All you need to do is look in the mirror.