Things aren't (always) what they seem

I hope everyone had a restful Thanksgiving!

Did you ever have the sneaking suspicion that your perception of yourself is all wrong? Do others really see me as I see myself? Put simply, I look at a picture of myself and often think it doesn't look like me. I listen to a recording of my voice, and I am amazed that I sound like that. I imagine that all the other senses are askew too, or maybe people perceive them differently. Let's take this deep thought one step further --- how about other people's perception of what you do and why you do it? This is mind-blowing stuff! What if you think about yourself entirely differently than others do. Very few people tell you what they really think or are thinking. Maybe none of this matters, but I will caution you, people and situations aren't always what they seem (you assume)!

Oura Ring
Technology

"Do you take (fill in the blank) to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
I associate rings with marriage more than anything else. I was never a ring person. Not many men I know are. Sure it's also an expression of personal style, but I have found other ways to express my individuality. In fact, I haven't worn a wedding ring in 20 years! However, I now find myself wearing a ring again. This time it only looks (acts) like a wedding ring, but rather than expressing my dedication to marriage, it expresses my dedication to fitness! It's not that I am not dedicated to my marriage, but my wife already knows that. In fact, I think she also agrees that I should be wedded to my health, so I am around longer! The Oura introduced to me by fellow Louper Holly S. constantly measures your vitals and much more. They send a sizing kit, so you get the right measurement for the right finger for you. I have it on my ring finger, may as well kill two birds with one stone! I find it more comfortable and less intrusive than the FitBit or Whoop, and just this morning I learned that I had 12 hours of sleep and fitness.

Xpression Camera
Technology

Zoom has become the Pandemic norm for education, business, and really everything. We all stare at our computer, studying the faces littering the screen to determine where to look. Zoom even allows one to be creative by changing the background. My go-to background is a looped video of me cruising in my RV Loretta. However, I do generally like to add a background that is relevant to the meeting. My kids' school conferences proved a great opportunity to show the teacher that I cared, like when I put up a Scarlet A for my daughter's 10th grade English class or Pythagorean Model for my son's 9th grade Math class. But, I recently came across the next level, how to morph yourself into a historical figure. This nifty little program maps out your eyes and mouth and moves them when you wink, blink, or speak. On my last call, I was Mona Lisa! The person on the other side of the call just may not be who you think they are!

Ravens & Rainbows
Book

Things aren't always what they seem. This is an excellent and brave book written by a close high school and college friend Vanessa R. She may not have wanted to write this story, certainly not lived it, but it represents a promise fulfilled not only to her daughter L. but also to the world. I had the opportunity to meet this special young woman at Country Kitchen in Highland Park for breakfast. I awkwardly paired her and her sister with my own children, whom they had never met so that I could catch up with her parents. It seems shortly thereafter, L. came down with Burning Limb Syndrome (BLDS); to put it in context, it provided her with constant, excruciating pain that exceeds the described pain of amputation without anesthesia. This is not simply a mother's story of love and resilience, but rather Vanessa's tribute to L.'s authentic and powerful voice. L. had the maturity to know she wanted to be remembered and positively impact the world. While she is no longer with us, I hope her legacy and poetry will spread to many more people. 

Just remember, things may not be as they appear, and consider Oura Ring, xPfression Camera, Ravens & Rainbows Found!