We’ve all heard it – probably even answered it before, and in most cases, we promptly forgot about the question until it was raised again: if you could have any superpower you wanted, what would you have? Usually when this happens we just pick another clichéd and generic superpower, like teleportation, super strength, or invisibility, probably a different one than last time it was asked. So I’ve decided to really think this through. And after mulling it over a bit, I think I’d like to be able to remake any decision I’ve ever made. Why would I choose that? Well, I’m a lazy person. Some of you might’ve heard, “With great power comes great responsibility.” I’d like to keep that responsibility to a minimum.
Having some selfish super power that only really affects me allows me to be free from the role of hero. It’s just something that could help with day-to-day life, like fixing my answer on a test or buying better Christmas presents. The power is easy to hide, and allows me to shirk responsibilities. People can’t exactly pester me about doing something for them either, because they know that a.) I can’t (and probably won’t) do anything about their problems and b.) I could change my decision of even looking at that person in the first place.
Being able to undo decisions could be a lifesaver as well. Let’s say I drop my keys while crossing the road. I bend down to pick them up, and I get hit by a car. If only I could’ve waited for two or three more seconds… Oh wait – I looked both ways before picking it up. I never got hit in the first place. Or maybe I get lost in the wilderness while hiking.
Well, I brought along a map with me, the trail was pretty easy to find before I could wander off too far. How would my power work? I’d like to leave myself with a moderate degree of flexibility, but basically it’d work by me thinking about which decision to change, going into the memory, and changing the past. Then I’d zip right back to the present, only a millisecond later in present time. As I’ve demonstrated, being able to undo any of your decisions would be really useful. It wouldn’t work out as a “hero power,” but knowing me I think that’s better.
Costumes are blistering hot, especially in the Florida sun. So I didn’t choose the hero path. I like to think I chose something more “my pace.” With this power, I can live a regret-free life, full of good decisions and no mistakes.
