I have 3 monitors on my desk functioning my work computer but also my personal computer so 4 total screens. Not much more can fit. But I love the ease of this set up for both professional / personal.

As many others, I have a desk full of memories :). I would have to say right now that the most important thing on my desk is my bag of Wiley Wallaby licorice. It's the best for an afternoon pick me up :)

I have a professional photo of my wife when she was pregnant with our son—who’s now 17. That image grounds me and serves as a daily reminder of why I push forward: for my family. While my desk could probably use a bit more tidying, that photo stands out as a source of inspiration. Thankfully, with a Smartsheet license, organizing and collaborating on projects has become much more manageable—even when the desk isn’t. 😆

This tchotchke on my desk is for those times I am asked rhetorical questions:

My desk is covered by things that bring me joy. Notes from people, pictures of family, awards, puzzles, and so much more. However, if I think about my favorite thing it would be the pictures I can see on the wall while I sit at my desk.

Across from my desk I have a picture of each of my grandfathers.

Top Left my grandfather who is about to turn 89 and worked as a mechanic on construction equipment until he was in his 70's. He tells a story that he used to drive to where my grandma was living in a nursing program and sleep in his truck each night. She would come out with a piece of fruit for him and he would make 2 sandwiches and eat them for dinner. That was the only food he had all day and he found it was easier to work on an empty stomach that sleep. No matter how hard my day is…it is never this hard.

Bottom Right my grandfather who died right after I was born. He worked in the coal mines after WWII. He was a medic in WWII on a campaign call Hell on Wheels. He had multiple job offers for local hospitals before he even came back form the War. He told his family he would never again operate on a young man and instead of working in the hospital spent the rest of his days working in the mines. No matter how hard my day is….it is never this hard.

I have many items on my desk I deem important to me, that ranges from music festival lanyards/posters I have attended throughout the year (Austin City Limits, Shakey Knees, Kilby Block Party, etc.), mementos, notes, and even various widgets and toys to keep my eyes and mind in a quiet and happy space.

The one item I will share is a small dish of natural crystals I dug up while on a girls' fun road trip through Hot Springs, Arkansas. We used digging tools to dig up crystals and rocks and I ended up being super sore at the end of it. Here are a couple of crystals I found and brought to the office to keep right in front of my desk to emit the positive vibes and juju throughout my workday. (The "gratitude" rock is NOT one I dug up but one that was given to us at work by our HR department to remind us of how grateful they are for us and the hard work we put in daily.)

I recommend framing over laminating! It will make it much more of a keepsake that you can display beautifully. (I'm paranoid that laminating things like this will somehow ruin them. I have seen colors shift because of the high heat that happens in the process and have had little bubbles pop up when laminating wrinkled papers.) Pick a beautiful mat and frame, and put it behind glass. It's precious, and I would hold on to it forever!