What’s Your Completely Useless Superpower? Here’s Mine.
Project 365, Day 44
I knew that on this 365-day journey, days were going to come that tested me in terms of wanting to sit down and writing. Today was one of those days. As I lay down on the sofa after dinner, my body aching from pushing myself at physical therapy all week, I thought “what if I just…didn’t today.” Forty-four days into this exercise, one I’m quite enjoying for the most part, may I add, and I just didn’t know what to write so I just didn’t want to.
“I have nothing to write today,” I found myself saying to Charles on the way back from picking up some take out. Then later, in the kitchen: “What am I going to write tonight? I usually have an idea of something, but I’ve got nothing.” I tend to play the very dangerous mental game of letting things materialize in that mind of mine just to see what happens. Will I push it into reality? Will I just kick it around like a hacky sack until I upset myself for even entertaining the idea? It could really be any of those on any given day.
But then I pulled out my phone, realizing I hadn’t responded to comments yet—my favorite part of this whole experience—and I saw everything I needed to see. From my reader friend Rusty, all the way across the globe, over there in the literal FUTURE: “Thank you for being your word, to yourself, and to us, by writing every day.” DAMNIT RUSTY. You got me. While, of course, my commitment to you all is important to me, probably more important than I realized it would be, the commitment to myself is far and away something I need to take more seriously. Why does it feel so easy, so seamless, to let ourselves down? The quote I shared last week popped into my head, and here I am sitting down doing something that tomorrow me will be grateful for today me having done.
So, to keep moving forward, to say that I showed up, to not let myself down, I’m here.
A few days ago I started a post draft that was fun and I figured, what better time to let that into the world. It’s honestly just silly, but something I pondered recently.
I was sitting, yet again, on the couch with Charles (I’d blame it on the pandemic, but who am I kidding…), watching the pilot episode of Modern Family. “She’s pregnant! Julie Bowen is pregnant and they’re trying to hide it!” I shrieked. Charles, this not being the first time he heard that come out of my mouth, jokingly sighed so loud, it left an indent in the sofa. “Yes, Arlyn…I know.”
You see, spotting pregnant women on television whose character isn’t pregnant, is my completely and utterly useless superpower. It’s my favorite past time, pointing it out…every time, even if it’s the umpteenth time to do so. I also have a knack, much to my darling Charles’ chagrin, for complaining that all the newborn babies they use on TV and movies are at least six months old. OF COURSE, they aren’t going to use a brand new baby, but I have to say it regardless. It’s gotten so bad, anytime a baby appears on the screen, Charles prepares room for me and my comment. “Go ahead, say your line,” he’ll declare.
Another completely and utterly useless superpower? Well, it also has to do with TV. I 100% cannot ignore when a character is covering a cold. “THEY HAVE A COLD!” I’ll say. I think all three of these incredibly annoying instances stem from my past of being a know-it-all youth. I can’t let someone have thought something before I did, or noticed something before I see it. It’s idiotic, I know, but I accept who I am, and I love me.
So, there you have it. Three of my completely and utterly useless superpowers. Let’s play a fun little game where you share yours in the comments. I’m sure we all have real, wonderful, superpower-y superpowers (I’d like to think mine really is my empathy for other humans), but it’s Friday night/Saturday for you, and I’m not ready to get serious.
And……go!
Can’t wait to read your comments.
See you tomorrow, friends.