Growing up as a child, I saw, and imagined, different types of superpowers from TV. From superspeed, superstrength, telekinesis, to anything unthinkable.
I had always fantasised about having superpowers as they were always portrayed to be so cool. You get to do things that amaze people. Get to save the day on some days. You get to walk majestically with your back to a cool explosion, wearing that hero look (you know how they do that in movies😁).
And on some days, I did get to be one of those super heroes, only that it never went beyond the dreams in my sleep. And on regular days, I spent countless hours watching and adoring TV superheroes.
At some point, we may have wondered what it is like to be able to lift or push 20 times our weight. Or what it's like to move at incredible speeds. Or being able to fly like Superman. Or what it's like to be Thor, and to summon thunder. The list can go on.
But we never really consider the consequences of using such super powers. For example, being invisible would render you blind as you are able to see because of the reflections of light in your retina.
If you could fly, you would have to deal with the atmospheric pressure up there. And you'd probably be cold for most of the time.
If you could run at super speed, your feet would not be able to withstand the intense heat that would build up as a result of friction with the ground.
If you could think at speed, you would have to deal with seizures a lot more often as your body would not cope.
If superpowers did exist, there would definitely be super heroes. If you agree that not everyone with powers can just be called a hero. There would also be super villians; people who would use their powers for evil purposes rather than for the greater good.
We already have terrorists, bombers and anarchists. We have racists, thieves, and criminals. Super powers in the wrong hands would only birth super bombers, super anarchists, super racists, and super criminals.
But here we are all still, in the reality of it all, as regular humans in our regular lives. Super powers do not exist, but let's have fun anyway.
So let us suppose, for a minute, that super powers were actually real (without the consequences, of course), and you could pick just one out of many. What would be your choice? And why?
For me, I would want a super power that is in absolute usefulness to me and the people around me. I would want something that can help me skip a lot of hassle in some cases.
Teleportation, to me, is the banger. And maybe, alongside it, I will be called Blink. I know that is an existing super hero name (I just do not remember where from), but it sounds cool, if you would admit it.
Imagine with me, all the possibilities of being able to teleport, or jump (as they would call it in the movie, Jumper)
All those Italian foods, like their pizzas, burritos, lasagna, tacos, that are shown in movies, poof, I am there in one of their restaurants, buying one (I ain't gonna steal, lol.). and poof, I'm back sharing with my people.
Or say the beautiful places I have always wanted to visit (*but as plane tickets don cost for Naija), poof, I'm gone.
But enough enjoyment. I could actually use them to save people from accidents, prevent bomb attacks, get my mother great birthday presents, and many more great things.
But again, the reality we leave is far from these fantasies. Nonetheless, heroes do exist; they are just not superhuman.
You and I could be heroes in daily life in the little ways we can. A little love in the air can transform people's lives, or even save them.
