It is surprising what things will come to mind.
There are times when we need to take time to slow down. In times like these, I like to get out a puzzle. It may have to sit out on the table awhile before I can get it completed, but it does help to get ones mind off other things.
It’s an activity you can do and still carry on a conversation with others. It also can give you time to meditate, or like mentioned earlier, just get your mind thinking of something else for a while.
The puzzle my mother and I are working on now is extremely difficult. It is a maze of different shapes. Some are little, some big, some crooked, some curved. And seeing as it does not have a straight outside edge, it is definitely designed to give the brain some exercise.
We have discovered that things look impossible one way on our large piece of white cardboard, but for some reason, turning it and looking at it from a different direction gives you a whole new outlook. Compare that to every day living. If something isn't falling into place sometimes, it helps to turn things around and look at it from a different perspective. It doesn't always work, but inevitably at least a few pieces seem to appear and take their spot in completing the puzzle.
Like the puzzle, there are times I don't think all the pieces are there in my life. Nothing seems to fit together just right, but with patience and a little ingenuity, eventually the pieces seem to fall into place. Sometimes, it takes extra thought to see the shape of things and a little color helps too.
Turning pieces around sometimes helps to make them fit, even though you swear you've found the right piece many times. Soon enough, you figure out otherwise, and then bingo — the pieces fall into place.
They say puzzles are good for the mind. Time spent isn't wasted because you have been exercising your thoughts, attention, eyes and it makes one intuitive. It’s a great brain exercise to teach us to not just look but see what is going on.
Children are usually good puzzle people. I believe that is because they see things quickly. As many of you know, I am missing part of one of my legs following an amputation back in 1982. Most adults ask how long I have been on crutches, never seeing the missing leg. However, children see it immediately and question why. Maybe they are on a different level and are more observant.
On the humorous side in regards to puzzles and such, my Grandma Hanson always used to say, “Give me a scissors and I'll make it fit.” We laughed, but there is some truth to it. We often go for the “quick fix,” which isn't always the right fix.
Life is a puzzle — put it together correctly and it turns out to be a beautiful picture, even if some of the pieces aren't shaped right or lack luster. Giving up results in only having a pile of pieces with lots missing. True too, with life, giving up makes one’s life less than complete.
The time element does/doesn't make a difference. Sometimes, it is easy and the puzzle progresses quickly. Other times, it takes a lot of work. Maybe that is what makes life interesting and sometimes difficult. We breeze along putting pieces of our lives together and everything seems so complete. But then, we hit a place in the puzzle (life) that has all the wrong curves and colors and we are tempted to throw it all back in the box so to speak.
That is not the solution. We're human. We have good days and bad days. We cherish the good times and we have to work to get through the bad, but it is nice to know it can be done.
Robert Schuller coined the phrase, “Tough times never last but tough people do.” My mother has it on card on her refrigerator as a constant reminder. It has been there “forever” but the message is still fresh as the day she put it there.
I’ve often wondered why would anyone cut a beautiful picture to pieces only to turn around and put it back together again. Such is life. Someone or something will always “cut up” our perfect world. It is a challenge to put it back together again. We can do it.
Like pieces of a quilt, it is how you put it together that makes it a masterpiece. But, that is another story.
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Birthdays and anniversaries:
• Thursday, February 9th: Emily Eder, John Warnke, Donnavon Eaker, Laura (Edwards) Baudoin, Brad Lerum, Howard Goette, Kelly Lageson, Heidi Nelson, Karen Knudson, Tami Sorenson, Jay Wangsness.
• Friday, February 10th: Brooklyn Jo Baudoin, Brett Mitchell Kubiatowicz, Greg Hagen, Abbey Jensen, Tom Wayne, Dean Reiter, Michael Glienke, Wayne Osmundson, Rachel Strand, Judy Thostenson, Peggy Talamantes, Greg Nelson, Madison Johnson, Dick & Mary Ann Ewing.
• Saturday, February 11th: Helyn Langlie, Megan Pence, Jet Wayne, Neil Douglas Schmidt, Donna Wilker, David Dunn, Julie Christensen, Rhonda Thompson Christensen, Steve Gallentine, Earl Cleven, Teresa Knudson Pratt, Nadine Berg.
• Sunday, February, 12th: Gail Skroch, Joe Moon, Michael Hanson, April Van Riper, Rick Borchert, Eugene Kruckeberg, Travis Wayne, Jessie Olson, Greg Oswald, Taff & Jean Worrell, David & Carolyn Hanson.
• Monday, February 13th: Cobi Gowlland, Becca Spurr, Greg Spurr, Jim Brocker, Eric Olson, Linda Ingvaldson, Bonnie Jensen, Brian Rechtzigel, Anita Kes, David & Carolyn Nelson, Terry & Pam Roberts.
• Tuesday, February 14th: Happy Valentines Day! Angie Entwisle, Elsie Vander Stoep, Michelle Peterson, Matthew Reiter, Angela Westrum Lair, Lee & Jean Johnson, Bob & Mary Macko, Gene & Linda Pederson.
• Wednesday, February 15th: Kloe Renee Wacek, Nancy Cornelius, Patty Kunkel, Eric Olson, Adam Warnke, Ron Jensen, Michelle Hanson, Angie O'Byrne, Elina Butler.
May all the good wishes that you receive on your special day bloom in your heart and bring you joy!
