Oh the Unlimited Power

Daily writing prompt
What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.

I’m sure this prompt was intended to garner responses like “ice skating” and “selling my custom stuffies on Etsy,” but that’s thinking too inside the box.

What is something I would attempt if I was guaranteed not to fail? So even if I did a terrible job at it, that something would be adequate enough to be considered a success? WordPress, do you realize you’ve handed me a magic genie that isn’t actively trying to screw me over? You have made me into a Goddess.

Be grateful I plan to use this for beneficence.

At first, I thought, “marriage,” but that’s basic (and selfish). Technically a lot of people have “successful” marriages that don’t “fail,” aka end in divorce, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. I don’t want to lose out on a technicality. Also, my personal lack of failure in a marriage wouldn’t improve humanity. It would just allow me a slightly better return on my taxes.

And here’s the thing: failure doesn’t necessarily mean smashing success, but I would happily do a mediocre version of something if it meant that humanity benefits in some way from my artless wins. A mediocre solution to a bad problem is better than no solution, and I’m happy to let the dreamers and experts improve upon whatever I’ve put forth into the world.

Here are the three things I would attempt if I were guaranteed not to fail:

  1. Research and implement a fast-acting solution to stop and reverse the effects of anthropogenic climate change.
  2. Design a model of a perfectly functioning, hands-off artificial pancreas and release those plans online so that they can be accessed by anyone.
  3. Create a cure(s) to stop and reverse the growth of any and all malignant tumors (and this cure would not turn people into vampires/zombies).

There are other things I would like to attempt. Ending systemic racism. Creating a pill that will allow dogs to live twice (or ten) times their regular lifespan. Reading minds. Convincing Hallmark to greenlight “The Magic of Ordinary Days” sequel and Netflix (or HBO) to adapt “Ice Planet Barbarians” with me on the writing staff. Predicating rises and falls in the stock market. Enshrining the right to free healthcare in the constitution. Bringing the catchphrase “Cowabunga” back into the modern vernacular. Contacting sentient alien life.

Oh, and I guess I’d also try ice skating.

4 thoughts on “Oh the Unlimited Power

Leave a comment