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I don't know what came over me, but one day I had this strange, overwhelming urge to buy a jigsaw puzzle. I hadn't thought about working on a physical puzzle since my teenage years when my stepfather used to spend hours on them. He was quite obsessed. I wasn't even sure if they still made puzzles, but a quick search on Amazon confirmed they did. So, I headed to Target.
Feeling a bit embarrassed to ask for help, I wandered into the children's section where I assumed the puzzles would be. The variety was nothing like what I remembered. Instead of the scenic puzzles of old, the shelves were filled with Disney-themed ones, which I didn't want. Then, almost hidden, I found it: a puzzle featuring a charming French country town with a stone bridge, vibrant flowers, cobblestone streets, and quaint local shops. It was perfect.
I hurried to the self-checkout and then home, eager to start. I dusted off an old pegboard from my office to use as a surface and poured out the contents of the 1000-piece puzzle. My initial excitement quickly turned to doubt—1000 pieces seemed daunting. I decided to start with the straight-edged pieces, a strategy I remembered from digital puzzles.
As I separated the edge pieces, I began to worry that I might not find them all. But as I worked methodically, it seemed I had them all. Then, just as I was nearing the completion of the border, I realized one piece was missing. Anxiety welled up in me. I was ready to dive into the pile of remaining pieces when a still, small voice inside me said, "Stop. Put your finger in the empty space where the puzzle piece goes."
Following the prompt, the voice continued, "See, that's your problem. You keep worrying about that one small piece of your life that's missing, but look at the big picture. What else can you do while you wait to find that small piece?" I glanced over the puzzle outline and thought, "Well, I guess I could work on the sky."
As I focused on the rest of the puzzle (I'm still working on it, by the way, lol), I realized how much I had been fixated on that missing piece. It blinded me with anxiety, making me feel like I couldn't move forward without it. But when I shifted my focus to other parts of the puzzle, I eventually found the missing piece. It slipped into place almost inconsequentially.
This simple activity taught me a profound lesson. I realized that I often fixate on what's missing in my life, feeling unprepared or insufficient. But when I shift my focus to what I can do with what I have, I find that I am more than prepared. The missing pieces will find their way into place in their own time.
So, here's to not letting anxiety over the small, missing pieces stop us from seeing the big picture and moving forward with what we have. Let’s Keep It Moving!
Something you may enjoy...
If you enjoy puzzles, you'll love my SAT Vocabulary Activity Books series! These books are perfect for practicing and enhancing your vocabulary skills while having fun. Each book is filled with engaging activities designed to exercise your mind and boost your vocabulary. Grab your copy today and start your journey to a sharper, more vibrant vocabulary!
This is volume 2 of the series. The others are included under the Books & Gifts page on my blog.
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