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Do you think you have the patience to do a puzzle of 1000 pieces or more? Have you ever tried? If you have, did you finish it, or did you stop halfway through because it was too much? In any case, puzzles are great exercise for both patience and focus.
I recently started doing a 1000-piece puzzle by myself. This is the first time I’ve done one completely on my own. I think my mom inspired me because she’s a total pro at it. She loves doing puzzles. We even did a couple of them when we were living together. She loves them so much that if you go to her house, you’ll generally see a puzzle in progress on her desk. Therefore, that’s always one of the gifts I get for her on Christmas and birthdays. 😜
When I say she’s a pro, I really mean it. She has a great method and her own rules to organize the pieces before she starts putting them together, and she always sends me a happy dance video when she puts in the last piece. Her method is simple but highly effective. She looks for the four corner pieces first, and then she separates the border pieces by color. She says: “You need to start to build it from the pieces that are easier to spot, and that will give you the time to get familiar with the whole puzzle.” I know, right? She’s so wise! ❤️
I know you might be thinking, “Why are you talking about something as silly as puzzles on New Year’s Eve, Irene? You should be writing about the New Year and how to make it a great one,” or something along those lines. Well, my practice with the puzzle has provided me with a good analogy, and I believe this is the perfect time to share it.
As we’re about to start the New Year, let’s think about it as if every January 1st God himself (or the Universe) hands you a completely new puzzle. Because God is giving you the pieces, keep in mind they’re the moments and situations you’re going to live and go through this New Year, but the puzzle is totally under your control. You’re the one responsible for putting the pieces together and making sure they fit well. You’re the one in charge of how to start building the puzzle. You have all the pieces already designed to complete the beautiful picture God wants for you this New Year, and it’s your job to make it happen.
My experience doing the puzzle has taught me that my mom is completely right. Building the foundation of the puzzle by finding the easiest pieces to spot gives you the time to get familiar with the whole puzzle. So, tomorrow, January 1st 2022, when God (or the Universe) hands you your own unique pieces, take a moment to spot what’s easiest and start building the foundation of your year from there. You don’t need to saturate the first month of the year with a huge list of complicated goals to accomplish—doing so will only frustrate you about your “yearzzle” (my new word addition to the world 😂). I’m not saying you shouldn’t have goals for the New Year. All I’m saying is that it’s always a great idea to start with what’s easiest, so you can keep adding the more complicated things as you go.
Sometimes, when you’re putting a puzzle together, you feel completely sure that two pieces fit, but as you keep going, you realize they don’t, so you move them apart and place them where they should go. As soon as you do that, you’re magically able to spot more and more pieces that fit. So, if by any chance you put one of your yearzzle pieces in the wrong place, make sure to fix it as soon as you’re aware of it and keep going. Remember that all the pieces have been perfectly designed, but it’s your job to put them together in their perfect place.
In your puzzle journey, sometimes you might feel completely stuck. You try and try, but the pieces just don’t fit. My experience and my mom’s (a.k.a., the pro) have taught us to take a break and walk away when this block happens. As soon as we come back, the pieces that didn’t fit before start fitting perfectly. If you start feeling stuck with your yearzzle at some point, take a break and come back fresh. Sometimes you just need to walk away and let your mind settle for a moment, and then you’ll be able to find the pieces that perfectly fit at that moment.
If puzzles aren’t your thing, that’s completely fine. You don’t need to try them. But please make sure to organize your New Year in a way that serves you. God has a perfect plan for each one of us this New Year. Trust Him and His perfect guidance. All you need to do is to act. The opportunities are all out there waiting for you, but it’s your job to go find them and make them yours.
Life is God’s puzzle, my friends. All the pieces are already designed to perfectly fit, but it’s your job and responsibility to put them together with the focus and patience the yearzzle requires. I wish you a 2022 full of peace and trust. God loves us all! Happy New Year!
Love,
Irene
Great content! Keep up the good work!