Nananana...nana Pat Zahn!
Ok, I admit I’ve been wondering about this for awhile – it’s kind of a “word” thing for me – I get hung up on the word Superhero and whether that means “supernatural” . Then my mind wanders to the similarities and differences between the different crime fighters. I especially wondered about Batman because he wasn’t from a different planet, wasn’t exposed to radiation, and in fact, just a normal guy, albeit rich, quite brilliant, and suffering from a tortured past. I always assumed he was a superhero until I started thinking about it too much… Apparently, I’m not the only one – I found this question with answers all the way back in 2006 on answer bag. I particularly liked one of the comments, “Batman is a superhero despite his not having super-powers. His resourcefulness, insight and years of rigorous training make up for the absence of any other special abilities”. My daughter has an interesting take on it, she says, “It’s the ability to do something beyond “presumed” normal human capabilities or caring beyond a physical or polite level, going past societal norms, like rescuing someone from a burning building.” Wow!
So, maybe it doesn’t have to be that complicated. Maybe, it can mean gifts, blessings, or strengths that we were born with or that we have acquired or honed. Now that’s something I can wrap my brain around. Hopefully, we are all able to explore our superpowers in our day-to-day lives. Maybe even in our chosen career paths.
Photos, playbill, ticket...
One of my Superpowers is a brain that can see organization in chaos. As a Photo Solutions Superhero, I take piles of photos and documentation that were previously confusing and overwhelming and turn them into something that is enjoyable and even useful. I have done this with personal photos and memorabilia for scrapbook and digital scrapbook albums as well as photos and documentation for business portfolio photo books. I have even taught people to do this for themselves.
Here are some pages from a recent business portfolio I created as well as a link to the entire book for Alicia Perry, Realtor :
What are YOUR Superpowers?
I’d love to hear about them.
Love this approach to Super hero’s with super powers…that makes us all super hero’s if we actually use our powers, doesn’t it? My super power is very tied into my passion. I have the ability to see beauty everywhere and to create and spread beauty around. Since beauty is an ideal that actually enriches the soul and makes people feel good I help to uplift humanity. I also have the power to "read energy" which helps me with people and space. It translates into my business as an interior designer by being able to intuitively understand what people are looking for and to help them create a space that supports, nourishes and flows easily. All things that help to uplift my clients.
Thanks for positioning super hero’s this way Pat and asking the question. It’s a great one to contemplate
My super power is the ability to train ANYONE(Literate, illiterate, line work, professional or high level executive, deaf or blind, happy, sad or plain mad) on just about anything I set my mind to. Its not so much my ability to train that’s the super power its the learning environment that my super power abilities creates for the participants. We laugh, have fun, do exercises and activities and EVERYONE is totally engaged. There is nothing more rewarding when the hostile participant comes to me at the end of the day and tells me "I thought this was going to be a total waste of my time in fact I was sent, I can’t believe I laughed all day, the day flew by and I actually got something I can use."
Lisa Ann Landry – Corporate Trainer – Unleashing the Genie!
Wow, I have never thought of myself as a Super Hero, but I do believe that we all have gifts and talents unique to us that can, if we are intentional about it, impact others and maybe even "save" someone! I think the super power I may have is the ability to empathize and encourage and walk beside people that are going through difficult times or challenges, while praying for them and hopefully helping them to find their own answers and solutions so they can be empowered and able. It can be draining, but seeing someone turn from despair to joy recharges in a powerful way! Thank you for your perspective on this, Pat — we are all super heros in different ways! It was really worthwhile to think about this…
Great way to look at being a superhero Pat!
So what would my superpower be? Wow that’s a hard one. I am very good with computer but I would not really call that my superpower as their are people out there that make me look like an idiot on a computer. Also I just left my job in because I really did not like what I was doing any more and certainly ones superpower would not be something that you do not like doing. So my superpower, well it must be that I am empathic. I can feel other peoples pain and sorrow as well and their heath and joy. I am now learning how to use this superpower to heal people, animals, and the planet.
-Ron Britton-
Follow the Quest – MyWisdomQuest.com
I like this blog and love how you say we are all super heroes in our own way. I have taken my time commenting though as I really don’t know what to say about myself. Perhaps it’s my ability to adapt to change both chosen and not chosen and to take that change and make the most of it. But I’m still pondering on that…. Thanks, very thought provoking.
You Are a superhero, Pat, for articulating this concept so well! Atticus actually has a desire to be a superhero, and wrote about it in a past post, "Sports Stars and Superheroes". http://atticusuncensored.wordpress.com/2010/05/27/sports-stars-and-superheroes/
I like your idea of giving thought to our own superpowers. I think my "superhero" quality is resiliency. Life has thrown me too many punches, but, I always bounce back. I take great comfort in hard times, with the knowledge that I’ve honed my resiliency skills.
Great way to think about our gifts!
I think mine is the ability to find beauty in the ordinary.
I love the idea that we are superheros. You ability to organize visually is truly a gift. My super powers involves time management and ability to organize projects.
Julia M Lindsey
Our Little Books
Hi Pat, it’s nice to have your superpowers
I don’t have much of a creative side so I truly value those who do. My superpowers is being able to get through a person especially if they are looking for my help. I have a knack for connecting with people even if I just met them for the first time.
Anna
Superheroes are always appealing. I guess because inside each of us is the desire to do good, change lives, create happiness.
I believe my super power is to help people by gifting them with a joyful home. Using what they already own and finding sources and ideas to create homes of happiness. Encouraging stylish comfortable living, reflecting the possessions and passions of my clients. I believe that a beautiful life is made up of tiny magic moments. Sitting in a lovely garden drinking tea with a friend or lying in a bedroom that makes you feel like you are floating on a cloud. Walking around a gorgeous building that makes your heart beat faster. Each moment is part of the string that lights your life…. my work my power is to light the first light….
I could write my own blog post to answer your question! First, thanks for asking it, great engagement! And second, love that we are all superheros! We all have our own type of creativity/skill/passion/ whatever you want to call it that puts us into that "special" or "super" category!
Mine is seeing through peoples show (or crap…depending) and seeing who they REALLY are. I see peoples potential and help them reach it! I’m empathetic, and loyal. (Ann uses fiercely loyal, and am stealing that for me too.) I can get through anything and do anything I set my mind to.
Shawna E Anderson
"Your Brain Search & Rescue Program"
*PS before you go thinking I am all arrogant and full of myself, the above is what OTHER people have told me I am.
Thanks everyone for sharing your superpowers and the "love" – you are all Super Heroes to me!
Hi Pat- I love your daughter’s take on being a superhero: “It’s the ability to do something beyond “presumed” normal human capabilities or caring beyond a physical or polite level, going past societal norms, like rescuing someone from a burning building.” To me, I don’t think that being a superhero needs to do something as wonderful as rescuing someone from a burining building. We all can be a "superhero" to anyone else just by BEING. I know I’ve watched people who I don’t really even know, when they do something which really effected me in some ways. I would consider them to be a superhero to me in that specific time because my life was changed in some subtle way because of them. They may not have even known what they did effected me in such a fashion, but they were being a superhero. So, I think that when you effect someone, whether you know it or not, you are showing your superhero powers.
Candace – you are so right…some of the greatest superhero behavior I see is when a parent (or any adult) says something encouraging to a child/teenager – so simple, yet so powerful.
Hi Pat,
Your blog is fun & well-organized just like you. I appreciate how it encourages conversation and being a bit introspec about what each of us brings. My own hope for "superherodom "(is that a word?!), is that I leave each person I’ve had the pleasure to know or work with happier for the encounter. Your daughter seems to be wise beyond her years and a very talented writer as well.
Thank you for all of your help in putting together the business book you made for me. The feedback from clients and friends has been very positive. I highly recommend your services and the quality of your products.
Alicia – thank you for your kind comments and I think, sure, "superherodom" must be a word!
Reading this made me feel SUPER! How nice to reflect on the gifts we have as individuals. Mine has to do with writing, with using language to connect with emotions and thoughts, and to tell stories that give shape to our lives. I have always been a teacher, and now I am using my teaching skills to encourage others to trust writing as a means of connecting with self. I have also taken many pictures but have not had a good way to organize them, so I am quite interested in your work and organizational super-talents. Glad to find your site!
Judy
The Reflective Writer
Thank you for your comments Judy! So many people are afraid of writing so I think what you are doing is fabulous. I’d love to help you with your photos.
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