How long has it been since you attempted to put together a puzzle? Being a rather impatient child, puzzles were never my forte. By the time I got the edge assembled my interest was lost. The task of completing the puzzle seemed more like a punishment than an afternoon activity. How could anyone expect my seven year old self to enjoy sorting through a thousand tiny cardboard pieces for hours on end?
This week I've been thinking a lot about puzzles. Not in a literal sense but in a metaphorical one. Imagine, if you will, that your life is a thousand-piece puzzle and that all the tiny pieces represent different aspects of it i.e. family, friends, passions, interests etc.
The first thing that draws you to a puzzle is the picture on the box. When completed, that is what your puzzle/life looks like. The only problem is that in life you don’t have the box. Someone or something is holding it hostage…so where do you start?
As any puzzle aficionado knows, you start with the outer pieces and work your way in. Since the edge pieces are more distinct, they are easier to put together. For the purposes of this metaphor, the edge pieces represent your foundation. The edge is strong and steers you in the right direction. You can always build off the edge pieces.
Once the edge is completed the puzzle gets more challenging. Colors start melding together, pieces are lost and your ability gets questioned. There are times when you think you’ve got it all figured out but there is one major problem, the pieces don't fit together. Now you are getting increasingly frustrated. The pieces seem like they should fit perfectly…you want them to fit perfectly. You even go so far as to pound your fist into the table in an effort to force the pieces together.
After the adrenaline wears off, you realize that as much as you want the pieces to go, as much as you think they should, it just isn’t the right fit. You are demoralized and confused. You have no idea what this darn thing is supposed to look like and the piece you are looking for is nowhere to be found. You have rummaged through the remaining 625 tiny cardboard pieces about a thousand times but you simply cannot find what you're looking for!!
It is time for a break. Take a deep breath and close your eyes.
The funny thing about puzzles is that they always come together exactly how they’re supposed to. Slowly, pieces begin to fit together and there is progress. As tempting as it is to give up, DON'T…the puzzle needs finishing! You may not know exactly what the picture looks like but the end result is a full and happy life.
Now that I’m a little older and my attention span is much improved, perhaps it's time to finish the puzzle.
~E
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