Gnomes chilling on a bench in the 6th floor common area.

One of the markers of a great work culture for me is whimsy. You know, that silly, humorous aspect of work when you don’t always have to be so gravely serious ALL the time. The further I advance in my career, the more I see that tangible need for playfulness. Not in a disrespectful way, mind you… as there’s always a time and place for everything… but rather to allow for levity as a means of diffusing stress.

Comic relief. It’s a thing. A necessary thing.

Resident desk gnome, in the wild.

Tree of gnomes.

As the quirks of the culture in which I find myself unfold, I’m finding a genuine appreciation for the little things that make a place feel safe, cozy, even magical. There should be joy & play that feeds one’s inner child, the little learner inside each of us. Perhaps that’s why fantasy has always appealed to me. There’s something uplifting when you see fantastical creatures.

I suppose I’m channeling a bit of Newt Scamander, there.

Holiday gnomes.

Surroundings & vibes in spaces carry tremendous meaning for introverts, since we tend to spend a great deal of time absorbing, sensing, observing. We notice details, the little things. Environments matter. Objects that have meaning matter.

So, all that to say that I’m grateful to see whimsy on the 6th floor. It’s a pretty awesome place.

Outside my office, a gnome sentinel keeps watch.

Peek-a-boo gnome.