What are the chances that someone who shares your (unusual) name is actually someone who seems really cool? And what are the chances that that same person is interested in the same things you are? And what are the chances that Google Alerts emails you every few weeks to let you know that your name twin has been filming herself in St. Lucia visiting volcanoes or in Venice Beach performing with a local rock band?
Okay, those odds for that last one are pretty high. I mean, this stuff IS automated, after all.
But, seriously! How surreal is it to see this person, in pictures, and in videos, doing things that you can imagine yourself doing? Like maybe this other Lauren Ziemski is ME in the future, and she is sending videos back to 2011 to say: HEY! Get on with living already! Get your ass over here to Venice Beach where it's SUNNY and sign up to sing with a rock band and get your acting career on and make sure you bring your video camera when you go on vacation!
I first discovered I had a name twin when Google Alerts let me know that she had tweeted something about a bunch of her friends following ME instead of her. THAT must have been weird. They probably signed up to hear about her fabulous life and instead they got blog posts about intestinal worms and panic attacks. Sorry about that, Twittersphere!
One of the weirder moments I've had with my name twin was this: about a year ago, I created a profile on the Rockethub website. The exact sequence of events is a little hazy but it goes something like this: A few weeks later, I got an email from the CEO OF ROCKETHUB congratulating me on my project in Panama. WTF? I started digging around and found out that the OTHER Lauren Ziemski also had a profile on Rockethub. Around that same time, I also got a Google Alert that said that one Lauren Ziemski was doing something involving eco-villages in Panama. Um? WHAT? First of all, Panama is one of my favorite places on earth. Secondly, eco-villages? That sounds EXACTLY like something a less-anxious, more-having-her-shit-together me would be involved in! I had to email back the CEO of Rockethub to say he had the wrong Lauren Ziemski, but it got me thinking:
What if I started living more like this other Lauren Ziemski? What if we all found another person on this earth that shared our name and we found one thing about them to admire and possibly emulate in our own lives? (Wearing a leather dress and rocking out with a band is actually on my bucket list. And apparently, this other LZ over there in California has done that.... so why not move to the top of my list?)
This other Lauren Ziemski is pretty fearless. She's clearly a sun worshipper and knows how to have fun. She's a risk-taker, too. At least, that's what I'm gathering from what the Internet has provided about her. Those are some pretty imitation-worthy attributes, don't ya think?
Now, I'm going to presume that since we share last names we are related. And that means that it's not that much of a stretch to presume that it's DNA that mandates we feel most at home in swimwear. Or that, if I just dig down deep, since the other Lauren Ziemski has already tapped into it, that I can find that same courage and fearlessness in myself.
Ladies and gentlemen: the other Lauren Ziemski.
Comments
LZ: Omigosh. Cue the harmonicas and tumbleweed and the clinking of spurs! We meet at last! It’s you! How freaking rad is that? THANK YOU so much for the kind words. I’m still reeling a little from our parallel lives (um… I used to have a stuffed animal that I called “LaLa” and I LOVED that thing for years.) Anywho, you continue to inspire and amaze me. I had this nutty idea that we could somehow join forces and become Team LoLa or LaLo or LoLoLaLa… you get where I’m going with this… and do some good in this world. I dunno. Seems like there’s enough talent between the two of us that we could do SOMEthing jointly creative, doncha think? If not just for the ridiculousness of it. Just think on it. I’ll be over here. Writing. And stuff.
Ok, now I’m tearing up. Absolutely love your blog and your writing. Thank you for writing this about my good friend who I admire as well. Yes, you’re absolutely right…she IS fearless and inspirational. It’s so funny, because the timing of your blog post couldn’t be more perfect for Lauren because of how she was feeling recently. Like she said, we all see ourselves differently sometimes…like we’re not enough, not doing enough, don’t have our sh** together enough. And then you see how someone else sees you and it opens your eyes. I think we all can learn from this story and appreciate our lives as they are. But at the same time continue to learn from one another & grow as a person. Now lets all start checking things off our bucket list! Life’s too short!!
Lauren Ziemski,That sounds weird…like I’m talking to myself. I thought I would introduce myself….Hi, I’m….yeah whatever. You get it. Maybe I’ll just call you Cousin. Or LoLo. People call me LaLa, or Zim, or LZ. Your blog is amazing. You are such a talented writer. Something I always wish I was more proficient at……It’s funny to see yourself through another’s eyes…I feel like I’m not fearless, like fear hinders me, like I’m constatly trying to “make it” or make something happen. Perhaps that’s why I have a bazillion things going on…anyway…..we both have bad knees (just had surgery!) We read the same books (our lists are very similar)…we both seem to employ a bit of sarcasm….we both love travel…..DNA like you say? Possibly. I think you’re great. Funny. You’re blog made me (almost) tear up ;) I’m grateful for this post. Just a reminder to not take your life for granted. Thank you :)LZwww.laureneatsandtravels.blogspot.comLZ
Lo-You’re welcome to come sing for The Blue Lizard Band!-J