No really, what is it?

Not, I’d want to fly or be invisible or time travel so I could assassinate Hitler (though I’d want to be able to do all those things).

What is it now?

This is a concept I’ve been running into recently that I dig. This idea that we already have superpowers, we just don’t realize it.

Especially women.

Somewhere along the way, we’ve been made to think the things we can do are normal, trivial even.

Think about this.

Not everyone can bake. Forget about decorating a cake. That doesn’t just take skill, it takes vision. And have you heard anyone say, “Man, the world could do without pretty, delicious cakes”? Hell, no! A child’s eyes light up when she sees a pretty cake. My eyes light up when I see a pretty cake.

There’s also an art to wrapping a present. It’s true. And think of how a person feels when someone gives them a present that’s beautifully wrapped. The care and thoughtfulness and imagination and time it took to make something special even more special.

I have a friend who worked for a dry cleaner and she knows how to remove practically every stain known to (wo)mankind. Blood. Wine. Tomato sauce. Grease. Gone. You have clothes that are stained, you don’t wear them anymore, you turn them into rags, or you wear them when you’re weeding the garden. In the end, though, they’re essentially a loss. Unless you can lift that stain. Then you’ve actually saved that garment and saved money.

Think of that word “saved.”

Superheroes save a lot of stuff, don’t they?

Yes, I’m mentioning things that are considered “feminine” or in the “woman’s realm,” and why not? When did these things that women can do—that people can do but stereotypically women do—lose their magic?

Recently, my friend and fellow author, JB Salsbury put a hilarious post up on her Instagram about a grocery list a woman gave her husband that had such things on it as 3% milk, seedless strawberries and unsour cream. Seeing as her husband never went grocery shopping, he’d have no clue that these things did not exist. In other words, he has no clue his wife has a superpower. She puts food in the kitchen, food that nurtures her family. Keeps them whole and thriving day to day to day.

How is that not a superpower?

Yes, I’m suggesting when you go to the grocery store you should think of yourself as a superhero. You’re not only providing your family sustenance, you probably have coupons or price compare or buy 2 to get 1 free so you’re SAVING your family money. Hell, you’re AWESOME!

Taking this further, there are probably people out there who dig grocery shopping. I am not one of them. I detest it. And I’d wager I’m in the majority. It takes time. Money. The store constantly is deleting items I use from their shelves or moving stuff around so I can’t find it. Grocery store day doesn’t come, and I think, “OMG! I could be going to the spa, but I GET TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING! YAY!”

I do not think that at all.

It’s a necessity. The time it takes is a sacrifice. Superheroes sacrifice their time constantly. From now on, I’m going to plop Princess Starla’s cat food down in front of her and announce, “LOOK AT ME! I’M SUPER CAT MOM!” because I made sure the being that depends on me has what she needs. I make it a priority. I mean, my baby gets her food before I get my coffee.

Do you see where I’m going with this? I’m almost a saint.

Now, with all that said, what’s your superpower? What magnificent things do you do every day to make this world a better place?

Do you have patience with impatient people? Do you keep your cool when drivers all around you are being annoying and aggressive? Do you strive to be a driver who is not annoying or aggressive (and uses your turn signal)? Do you do without so your children can have more? Do you stop what you’re doing when your husband, kid, friend has some need you might be able to fulfill and then endeavor to make that happen for them?

How many casseroles have you made for a loved one who’s lost someone they love?

How many bouquets of flowers have you sent to make someone’s birthday, graduation, promotion, whatever feel special?

How many little and big things have you done to let the people you love know you love them?

How does it feel when the people who love you make you feel loved?

Well, you do that too.

And that’s super-powerful.

No one is ever going to be able to fly. To become invisible. To travel through time.

Let’s rethink this idea of what a superpower is, because all of us have them, we use them all the time, or we can learn to use them…

And day to day we make this world a better place.

And that’s power where power should be.

Rock On!