It happened. I crossed over to the other side and started a puzzle. I might be a puzzle person now. As I struggled through the first step of just spreading the pieces out right side up and separating the edges from the middles, I started to see the value in puzzles. They improve your problem solving skills. You have to determine what exactly you need and then search through all the options to find the piece that is the right color and has the right shape to solve your problem. This sounds a lot like life. Sometimes you think you have the right solution, but the shape is just a little bit off and you have to search some more. Once I was on the path to honing in on those important problem solving skills, I realized I was also learning how to be patient and not need instant gratification. Putting together a puzzle takes time. I am not going to finish for a while, unless I give up everything else and lock myself in the room. It’s raining here today so maybe that wouldn’t be so bad, but realistically, it will be slow going. We live in a world where we have gotten used to instant gratification. We like to be validated often and feel that sense of accomplishment frequently, but sometimes we need to wait and let life happen. Life is about the journey and not the finish line. Puzzles are like that. Finally, we might not see the big picture until the end. I might get all the pieces for a part of the picture, but I won’t get to see the two cats resting on the couch in front of all those pillows with the plants hanging in the background until the end. Remember, it’s a journey? Imagine if there were puzzle classes or puzzle time in schools. Not only would kids be learning valuable life lessons, it might just help with the mental health crisis. Something to think about while I search for that piece with the right shade of purple.
4/21
so many weekends
watching kids playing their sports
from foldable chairs
4/22
lovely view today
early blooms survived the cold
brighten scenery
4/24
lone duck swims early
before daily pace quickens
enjoys solitude
4/25
few favorite things
kept always ready for play
so many choices
4/27
edges may be smooth
what’s on the inside completes
then the picture shows
Tiffany Painter 