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Don't Do the Doodads
I love a carefully tended African violet as much as anybody. But the gray industrial shelves of my cubicle are bare of plant life, mugs and all other human touches. There are no drawings from my kids or mementos from a trip to Florida. Often people ask me why this is, or they give me a sad little shake of the head. They mean well. They're worried that I'm lonely, leaving for another company or a secret sociopath. But my blank cubicle is intentional. When I'm at work, I need to focus. Pictures of my family will make me wander into some daydream, wondering whether my son is really learning how to play the violin or just how to break the strings. Each of us understands the work-life balance in our own way. Feel no need to act homey anywhere but at home.