Couple years ago I went for a run and finished with some pushups. By the last set I was exhausted, and eased down onto my chest.

When I lifted my head, I had to do a double take.

[this story may be boring for Spanish-speakers and herpetologists]

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A lizard was parked on a bench two feet in front of my face, looking straight at me.

I stared back amused.

And then the lizard did several pushups.

Then paused.

Then did some more.

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I was slack-jawed.

Did this lizard just imitate me?
Are lizards playful?
Am I dazed from the heat, hallucinating?

I did a few more pushups, keeping eye contact.

It did a few more back.

When I was sure I wasn't dreaming I reached for my phone, but it scampered away.

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I was giving a talk later that morning so I had to hurry home and get ready.

But during the talk, I shared the story with the audience, and I got this awesome email from one of the students who was streaming the lecture at home.

4/

Nowadays I see lagartijas doing lagartijas almost every day.

Walking around the neighborhood, sitting in the yard... they're everywhere, doing pushups just like this:

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And dewlapping just like this:

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Thing is, I've lived in HTX with lizards around most of my life, and for 20 years I never noticed any of this until it was literally in my face.

Our attention is selective, and we can't just expect to see things if we're not prepared to.

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So here's the link to medicine (sorry, can't help it):

So often there are hints in conversation
(even questions or pleas)
Or signals in body language
Physical findings
Patterns on labs and imaging
Diagnoses

that are hidden in plain sight cause we're not ready to see them.

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But we could be!

And that's why I'm so grateful to learn from folks like @gradydoctor @TheRealDoctorT @rabihmgeha @DxRxEdu @AndreMansoor @ShreyaTrivediMD @ETSshow , and so others here and in my headphones.. who help us see things we wouldn't otherwise see.

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