My Secret Superpower
Ever since I was little, I could fall asleep anywhere. My dad told me this story that made me realize it was my secret superpower. My dad had stopped at a red traffic light. About five years old, I was sitting in the back of his motorcycle, which was common transportation in Taipei. At the light, another man on a motorcycle next to us turned to my dad and said, “Hey, mister, your daughter is sleeping in the back of your motorcycle. Very dangerous!” After that, my dad used a belt to strap me to him every time we rode the motorbike.
My superpower works during weekends on the sofa at home, on long flights sitting on planes, and on trains while I travel. It didn’t matter where. I could be out in a minute. For the long flight between Taiwan and Boston, I could fall asleep in Boston and wake up in Taipei fourteen hours later. It was fantastic to have this superpower.
Last month when I traveled from Boston to Taipei, my superpower no longer worked, and I couldn’t sleep through the combined 20 hours of flying time. Sitting through the flight, my lower back was hurting. I felt old.
Then I remembered my new superpower. With aging, I’m more comfortable being myself. I don’t drive. I don’t watch sports. I’m single and have no kids. That’s okay. I have a good balance between work and personal life and am surrounded by family and friends. I continue to live a happy life. With aging, my superpower evolves.
One day, I might be unable to walk, read, and eat. Aging is natural. When my body gives out, I know I’ll have wonderful memories of every single one of my superpowers. When I think of them, joy will filled my heart. That is also a superpower.