You'd be surprised how meditative losing yourself in a complicated jigsaw puzzle can be. There are all sorts of good reminders in the process, for example, even when you can't see the whole, you can just keep finding the next piece of the puzzle, and eventually you'll get to the end. Plus, it empties your mind of your worries, and when you get up from the puzzle, you tend to find that all sorts of connections have been happening in the background, solving your questions while you looked away. Of course, if you have a lot of work to do, better not to have a puzzle going, or maybe that only applies if you're a little OCD, as I am. I tend to want to keep going till I'm done.
I think I've given my niece and my daughter the puzzle bug. We have had such sweet companionable afternoons sitting there puzzling along together, our attention absolute. So much so that my daughter texted me this a little while ago: "Craving a puzzle."
I bought another puzzle today at the Costco. Of course.
ReplyDeleteThat one is beautiful.
Mary, you do jigsaw puzzles??
DeleteI used to do a lot of puzzles. I left all my old ones when we moved to Atlanta. I should look for a new one.
ReplyDeleteKristin, my mother loved them, and i used to love doing them with her. It has been wonderful to rediscover them now. I just order them from Amazon, they're less than 10 bucks.
DeleteI almost never do puzzles, but when I do them, I like them. Maybe I should do more!
ReplyDeleteThat one looks like your home turf. :)
I can't wait to see what Deep Dreaming photos you've come up with!
I used to do puzzles. Always 1000 pieces and almost always bought from a charity shop ( I think you call them " Thrift" shops? ) . I would do them several times over a period of time and then take them back to the shop and buy more. Such a great " time waster" . I would often sit down for 5 minutes and find that half an hour had passed before I knew it. I haven't done one since my old dog died and I got the pup…( now 2 years old ) I know exactly what your girl means by craving a puzzle.
ReplyDeleteI should remember to do a puzzle instead of watching TV. Like you say, you end up calmer and it is meditative, while watching random TV is often just a waste of time.
ReplyDeleteMy sister loves doing puzzles and is often teased about it. I'm going to direct her to your post and tell her tht one of my coolest writer friends does them, too. I myself am NOT into puzzles -- well, maybe crossword puzzles. And I do like a game of solitaire.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't done a puzzle for sooo many years. Our cats push the pieces off the table! Very frustrating to get to the end and be missing several pieces ... and never find them. My meditation has always been reading. I don't think that will change until I can't see to read anymore. And then hopefully someone will bring me some audio books :)
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful puzzle, and I love that your girl has picked up the craving.
I do enjoy puzzles but I only like doing them when I am interested in the completed picture, otherwise I become a bit cranky instead of determined! I'm also a big fan of word puzzles and Sudoku :) Glad you are sharing the taste!
ReplyDeleteI like your puzzle! I think I need a puzzle too! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's one's a beauty, and your thoughts about them are interesting. I want to like them, but they make me anxious. All those pieces! And they have to fit!! Oy! Back when we used to do them as a family, I liked them. It was quiet time together, but oh, that was long, long ago.
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