Normally, this month would require me to be focused on either writing or editing a story. I’ve decided not to do that. Instead, this month will be focused on the blog… the terribly neglected and woefully underused blog that you’re reading at this moment.

Since I enjoy the challenge that NaNo/Camp NaNo provides, I’ll just readjust it into a ‘blog post a day, every day, for a month’ challenge. To do that, I’ve looked around the internet for prompts (there are plenty, btw) and have decided to go with this one from The Sway. I think most of them are things I can write about, with only a few that I’ll be changing up a little to fit my format a little better. So, without further ado, my first prompt of the month…
1. What superhero powers would you NOT like to have?

First of all, I like this question. We are all offered the opposite posit at least once in our lives… ‘what super power would you like if you could pick one?’ We mull the question over, Unlimited options running around in our brains making the decision either instant, or tough (depending on what kind of person you are).

To bring the question full circle and ask what you wouldn’t want… makes the question much more interesting. To answer the question, I would have to say all of them. I wouldn’t want any super power. Even after exploring the options by writing a book about someone who could have any super power imaginable, I still wouldn’t want any. There are a few reasons.

  1. Any super power, no matter how hidden, would set you aside. Even if nobody knew about it, it would place you in a ‘different’ category. I don’t like to imagine anyone being ‘different’. I know there are differences between people… all of the protected categories of discrimination, for example. But, at the end of the day, we fully realize that even with all of the ways that we can be different, we’re all human. Having a super power (a legitimate one, not just being really good at something) would place me under something other than human… because humans don’t have super powers.
  2. It would be inconvenient. I don’t like to be inconvenienced. Seems that no matter what you got as a power, you’d have to adjust… not only your lifestyle, but others around you. I don’t like to inconvenience others, either. “Oh, hey! I’ve got a super power now, so things are going to change between us.” followed by a list of dos and don’ts and things that could get them killed, etc…
  3. I like the way I am now. While I’m not saying that a super power would ‘change’ me, in a ‘who I essentially am’ kind of way, I just wouldn’t want to find out. I spent 4 years in the Marines. It was tough and challenging. But, to find out later that they use many forms of brainwashing in basic training, it makes me question my ‘who-ness’. Even though it’s been many years since I was honorably discharged, I still wonder if boot camp essentially changed who I was in some form. I don’t like to think that’s even possible. Having a super power would cause me to think about that, too.

All in all, I think we all believe it would be cool to have a super power. But, at the same time, I’m really thankful that none of us do. I’m happy to feel like I’m part of a collection of average, everyday, people. What do you think? Do you think you’d be happy with a super power? Which one would you NOT like to have? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll see you tomorrow.