screen savers...

People are choosing the same theme for their screen savers these days. Don't be surprised if you learn that you are not so different when you select an image of a sun setting over the ocean for your screen saver. Chances are that millions of other people use the same screen saver to give their computer the feel of serenity. The 'setting sun' image is not the only screen saver; there are a myriad of others that appear to suggest tranquility. Try the field of lillies or the view of a mountain top or perhaps three perfect roses in some garden five thousand miles away from where you are.

The reality is the same for everyone. We use these screen savers to try to think of a reality that is so different from our own. In my cubicle several months ago, I had used a screen saver of a rippling lake in the rain. I often looked at that image to try to remind myself that my colleague, a fat woman with a half-eaten cheeseburger and chocolate bar, was not sitting in the adjacent cubicle and having a snack. The rippling lake forced me to use my imagination. But no matter how hard I tried, the fat lady was there--in fact she let one go and said 'oops' and turned around and smiled at me.