For the Love of Lists

Engineering life one step at a time

Quick 10: Top 10 Desktop Background Ideas

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For this week’s Q10, here are 10 quick ideas for your desktop background that can make your desk much more inviting and more productive.  Try them as a single screenshot, a collage, or as a slideshow.

  1. Family & friends – This is a great idea for a photo collage or slideshow and the sight of loved ones can relieve stress during busy periods.
  2. Environment change – If you’re in a city, try the beach or the countryside.  If you’re missing the hustle and bustle, try a Times Square panorama.
  3. Travel – Have some places you’ve always wanted to go?  Get some high quality images of your dream vacations and use them for motivation.
  4. Animals – Similar to the friends & family background, science says adorable animals will help you stay calm and happier.
  5. Hobbies – Choose photos of your favorite hobbies (crafts, surfing, motorcycles, etc) and make a slideshow.
  6. Patterns – If busy images are too distracting, why not find a pleasing pattern for a colorful, but neutral backdrop.
  7. Color Therapy – Speaking of colors, try using brightly colored images to improve your mood and productivity.
  8. Mental Shifts – Use timed slideshows you help you block time with contrasting photos that changes every 30 minutes and give your mind a refresh.
  9. Inspiration – If there are quotes or images that simply inspire you, including them in your background can help motivate you when times get tough.
  10. Organization – If you’re the meticulous type or need some order, look for templates that will help organize your desktop icons, or make your own in Photoshop.
Desktop Organizer
My desktop organizer.

Your desktop background is just another tool you can use to your advantage – don’t waste it!  Do you have any ideas to add to this list?  Please share them below in the comments and subscribe to the email list to stay up to date on all my Quick 10 lists.

10 Lessons to Learn from Princess Stories

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Princess Lessons

I’ve read articles arguing both sides of the “Princess Debate”: whether or not it is healthy for young girls to be exposed to the world of pink and sparkly when there is such a push for equal opportunities and independence.  While I agree that several of the traditional concepts of princesses can have a seemingly detrimental effect in contrast to encouraging gender-neutral interests, I can say that I grew up with princess stories and still ended up an engineer.

In retrospect, I’m actually glad I got to enjoy those movies and novels.  I still enjoy them.  Sometimes I think it’s possible to push too far when aiming for equality in that we can start to villainize any healthy feminine interests.  People are multi-faceted.  Even princess stories, if presented from the right perspective, can be learning devices to teach us about qualities and morals that will benefit us throughout our lives.  Here are 10 values that I learned about:

1) Kindness

Even the most dependent of the storybook princesses knew to be kind to everyone.  They were surrounded with supportive friends, doting parents, and affectionate animals because they continuously demonstrated kindness and friendliness in return.  The quality is almost universal to the idea of a princess, and as such is inherent to their nature.  In Snow White, the dwarves and forest animals are won over by Snow’s gentleness.  In Cinderella, Ella remains polite with her stepmother even when she does not reciprocate.  In Beauty and the Beast, Belle shows genuine compassion for the Beast and the residents of the cursed castle.  Such kindness, whether to family or strangers, is a trait to be emulated by all.

2) Charity

While I remember the riches and elaborate dresses, I also remember princesses who saw themselves as shepherds of charity.  They offered whatever they could if they encountered someone in a less-fortunate situation, and were always happy to offer help and support where needed.  In A Little Princess, Sara, a wealthy student, befriends Becky, a servant, and gifts her a pair of fine shoes when she learns that she has none.  In Enchanted, Giselle takes the opportunity to clean Robert’s entire house in gratitude for a place to sleep, and then aids him in planning a romantic gesture for his fiancé.  In the Princess Diaries II, Mia surprises a group of orphaned children with a walk in a parade and then works to establish a new home for them.  Large or small, these gestures demonstrated charity and thought beyond self.

3) Dignity

Princess stories were the first to teach me about the importance of image and dignity.  The princesses I remember tried to be poised, composed, and cool under pressure in efforts to emulate their queens and mothers.  Now, in almost all of the stories these efforts go awry, but it did demonstrate that there is a sense of dignity and honor tied to the role of a royal.  While we can’t and don’t need to be “perfect”, it is our goal to project confidence, morality, and self-control when acting in an official or professional capacity.  I picture Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday and My Fair Lady and Queen Clarice in The Princess Diaries series.

4) Duty

Most of the princesses are young, so they’re either not given too much responsibility yet or they’re amidst the transition to young adulthood.  However, the theme is that as they grow they will be expected take on more responsibility for their country and for their families.  This is just as we all face that transition into a sense of duty for our adult lives.  Many of the characters from these stories provide excellent examples of duty.  Mulan sneaks into the Chinese army to defend her country and protect her aging father.  Elsa, from Frozen, risks exposing her powers to ascend her father’s throne.    Sara, from A Little Princess, continues to read to the students of her school even after she is separated from them.  Even Mia, who is thrust into the life of a princess, grows to love Genovia and views it as her mission to succeed the family line and support her new lands.

5) Leadership

Growing princesses learn to be leaders, not just from their parents but from friends and role models.  They desire to preside over nations and support causes.  They aim to become queens.  Characters such as Queen Mary of Scots (Reign), Queen Catherine of Aragon (The Constant Princess), and Queen Clarice (The Princess Diaries) demonstrate decisiveness and fairness in their rules, and pass those qualities down to their families and friends.  I expect that if/when a Frozen sequel is released it will show Elsa’s new rule over Arendelle as well.

6) Etiquette

Princesses are taught to be polite and employ all acceptable social graces.  They know how to greet people, how to dine properly, and how to dress appropriately.  Once again we have Mia and Eliza Doolittle, who are both provided countless etiquette lessons.  While the term “etiquette” may seem archaic in today’s world, it really comes down to good manners and in some cases makes social interactions much simpler (ex. addressing wedding invitations).  There is nothing wrong with being polite, and the rules of etiquette give people a standard to go by.

7) History

Some of my favorite princess stories were fictionalized accounts of real-life people: Catherine of Aragon, Elizabeth I, Pocahontas, Marie Antoinette, Anastasia, etc.  There were movies, novels, and diaries depicting young princesses handling both historical dramas and standard teenage life.  Not only did they provide the same examples as the other princesses on this list, but they inspired me to learn more about their time periods and counterparts.  I would read the novels and go to the library to find non-fiction books about the castles, wars, and empires that they lived through.  Even in the case of Disney princesses I was motivated to search out the original fairy tales and learn about the authors.  My exposure to these stories as a child gave me a foundation for my future interests.

8) Piety

There are several princesses and heroines that demonstrated piety and spirituality in high regard.  Pocahontas and Mulan reflected their religions in how they approached challenges, turning to their faiths to build resolve.  In The Constant Princess and other novelized accounts, Catherine of Aragon is committed to God in her vocation as a wife and queen.  In nearly all depictions she is represented as a truly pious woman, devoted to prayer and almsgiving.  This image of someone so mighty as a princess or queen submitting to faith for strength was a powerful one for me.

9) Beauty

While all of the princesses in the stories were complimented on their beauty, what I gained from these tales was an appreciation for the beautiful things in life.  Nature, architecture, and craftsmanship feature greatly in their kingdoms.  There is nothing wrong with enjoying such fine items and comforts so long as they are not valued to the point of materialism.  Snow White, Aurora, and Pocahontas loved to explore and experience nature.  Belle was gifted an exquisite library that any reader would dream of.  Giselle had a passion for gorgeous dresses and turned it into a career.  Admiring and cherishing beauty allows us to reflect on what we have been given on this earth.

10) Imagination

Most of us don’t have a castle or carriages or an army of servants to take care of us.  But one of the lessons I learned from A Little Princess was that we are all gifted with a powerful imagination.  We can visualize our world as anything we’d like it to be.  And when that vision becomes a goal, and then a plan, we move towards creating that world for ourselves physically.  In Sara’s case she imagined herself a princess surrounded by fine treats.  In yours maybe you’d like to be an artist near a beach.  The what doesn’t matter as long as you’re experiencing it and working towards it.  Our imaginations and creativity are two of the most impressive resources we have.

Princess Library

When I thought of princesses as a child, I pictured women who didn’t have to worry about schedule or chores and instead were free to focus on charity and making their voices heard.  So I think the princess issue comes down to a matter of perspective: if you are able to highlight the right lessons these stories can be great tools for learning.  They become even more useful if you supplement them with real-life historical examples and other non-royal role models.    Instead of fighting the inevitable pink phase, employ it as a building block for new interests.  It will be what you make of it.

Here are some suggestions for princess-related (or similar) novels and films.  If you have any you’d like to add to this list, please leave them in the comment section!

  • A Little Princess, Francis Hodgson Burnett
  • The Princess Diaries series, Meg Cabot
  • Royal Diaries: Elizabeth I
  • The Constant Princess*
  • Anne of Green Gables
  • The Secret Garden
  • The Prince & Me
  • Disney Princess collection
  • Anastasia
  • Enchanted
  • The Princess Bride

*Young adult novel

5 Career Lessons I’ve Learned From a Musician

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My sister, Allison, performing at my wedding.

It has always been obvious to everyone that my younger sister and I are very different.  While I was studying physics and calculus, she was spending her time in the choral room and rehearsing for musicals.  It seemed easy for people to try to compare us – “smart” versus “artistic”, for example.  The truth is that I’ve always viewed us on two completely different paths, full of apples and oranges, which are wrong to compare in any hierarchy.  And so far I’ve understood those paths to be rather independent of each other, diverging into two separate worlds of personalities and preferences.  But recently I’ve been changing my perspective on just how separate those are.

I am now a launch vehicle engineer and she is an aspiring vocalist and songwriter.  I spend my days conducting vehicle integration procedures and she spends hers recording songs and promoting them.  While I can’t see any alternative future in which our roles are switched, I’ve realized that there are certain aspects of her life and career that draw me in.  As an engineer, sometimes it appears that the path is already well-constructed for you, and that your best bet is to follow it as it’s been laid out by the intellects before you.  From my side of the fence, her path seems like a blank canvas.  There is something exciting about having the freedom to create and reach out in whatever form you like.  Perhaps we can build the strongest careers and lives by inspiration from all of those around us – it was Da Vinci that said asked us to “Learn how to see.  Realize that everything connects to everything else.”  I have given it some thought, and here are five lessons I’ve learned from my sister.

1)      Know what you’re good at and what makes you happy.

While math and science may not be her strong suits, music has always made my sister happy.  She loves to sing, to play, to write, to listen to a variety of pieces, and every other way it can be involved in her life.  Instead of being held back by a lack of technical skills, she has focused on the skills she does have.  She is a talented performer and she loves to share her passion for music with others.  She knows what motivates her and what traits she can use to excel.  As an engineer, these same principles apply.  You need to understand which skills you possess that you can take advantage of, even if it involves making a list to remind yourself.  You also need to understand why you became an engineer in the first place and which elements of it inspire you the most.  And when you find those elements, surround yourself with them.

2)      Try all venues and media.

There are many doors to enter the life of a successful musician, several of which have popped up in the past few years.  My sister uses Facebook, SoundCloud, YouTube, Twitter, and other social media to promote her songs.  She applies for all types of auditions.  She’s sung at open mic nights, coffee hours, restaurants, school performances, on the street, in the mall, and even at a Broadway fundraiser in Times Square [update: twice!].  She delivers both covers and original songs.  Essentially, she takes advantage of any resource that is available.  The same can be true of engineering.  While you may be used to relying on whatever you learned in school or in your jobs, there is an abundant resource pool available to you.  Free online courseware, LinkedIn, social media, magazines/journals, professional organizations, libraries, blogging, weekend projects, and mentor relationships are just a few of the ways that you can grow as an engineer.  Think outside the box and find new exploits to pursue that will aid in your development.

3)      Seize opportunities and make opportunities happen.

My sister was once in a NYC restaurant with my parents where a man sat playing piano.  She left the table to approach him and ask if she could perform a song in front of everyone.  All of a sudden my parents recognized the voice of the girl singing “Over the Rainbow”.  Another time she reached out to Tony Award-winning star of Once, Steve Kazee, on Twitter stating that the only thing better than seeing his show would be to sing with him.  Wouldn’t you know that night he called her up on stage to perform the musical’s most popular number?  That even led to her participation in the Broadway event mentioned above.  These are just a few examples of times when she’s stepped out to “take a shot”.  She’s constantly looking for new opportunities to advance, to perform, to learn, and this should be true of all of us.  Sometimes we’re lucky and opportunity falls into our laps, and sometimes we need to be constantly looking for them and enabling ourselves to be better positioned for them.  Cross-training, leadership programs, networking connections, and managing projects are a few of the ways we can open ourselves up to opportunity at work. As a whole, we need to be open to new experiences and be ready to make an effort when opportunities come before us.

4)      Learn from and connect with others.

It is rare to be the most talented person in a group, and I expect it would be rather lonely.  In the music business there exist all different styles, instruments, and backgrounds.  My sister loves to collaborate with her friends and learn from their strengths.  She’s studied music and worked with experienced professionals just as much as she’s followed her idols.  And for every one of her videos she asks friends to share, she shares their works as well.  She’s surrounded herself with a support community that loves music as much as she does.  A typical stereotype of engineers is that we are isolated introverts who much prefer data to socializing.  But even we need that support system.  Friends, mentors/mentees, professional contacts, and advisors can all help in building that network.  I am fortunate in that my fiancé is also an aerospace engineer; we can inherently support and understand each others’ careers.  Reach out to colleagues when you have a question or need advice.  Use LinkedIn and start conversations at events to learn more about people who have interesting careers and knowledge.  And be ready to offer them a hand as well.  Some of those connections may just help to inspire you.

5)      Keep working for what you want.

Getting what you want in life is never easy.  There are tradeoffs everywhere and you need to constantly work towards your goals.  My sister works in retail by day and performs/records by night.  She’s been to numerous auditions where she’s failed and plenty of events that have stressed and exhausted her.  But she’ll tell you that it’s worth it, because she’s working at what makes her happy.  She keeps at it because if she really wants it, she will make it happen.  That lesson is as true as any, and one we should all remember.  Use your strengths, use your resources, seize opportunity, form connections, and keep pushing forward because you never know what will work out.

If you’re interested in checking out some of my sister’s music (which by now, I bet you are), you can find her on SoundCloud, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.  Here’s one of my favorites:

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician.  I often think in music.  I live my daydreams in music.  I see my life in terms of music.  I get most of my joy in life out of music.” – Albert Einstein

Who do you learn from in your life?  Feel free to share in the comments below!

 

This article was originally posted on my blog, Discovering Infinity and Beyond, on 7/10/14.