Why you must see life as a jigsaw puzzle
I have a confession to make. Yes, the hour is grave. It's time I announced it to the whole world:
I like doing puzzles
That's it, then. I've said it.
I know it's a shock, that you thought I'd be more into extreme sports or clubbing in Ibiza. Well, no, I'm happiest alone in front of thousands of pieces spread out on the floor 😉
Well, now that you've recovered from that shock, let's move on to today's topic: why you should think of life as a puzzle.
Hello, I'm Anne Bezon, a writer, a writing coach and a coach. My mission with this newsletter is to inspire and encourage you to write the life that's right for you, without worrying about society's diktats.
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N°1 : Thousands of pieces
Life is more like a 40,000-piece jigsaw puzzle (yes, there is such a thing) than a 2-piece puzzle (it exists too).
I've always been captivated by the almost infinite number of choices open to us, all the encounters we can make. When I meet people in the street, I think that maybe in another life we'd be friends. Every choice we make, every encounter we have is a piece of the jigsaw puzzle of our lives.
In the beginning, it's a mess. Everything is mixed up, you don't understand anything that life throws at you and then, little by little, everything becomes clear. Sometimes it takes a long time, of course, but generally, in the end, you get there.
N°2: Change your point of view
Don't be fooled: doing a jigsaw puzzle is physical. OK, not as physical as climbing Everest, but still. I often have to contort myself to look at the puzzle from a different angle and understand where the piece in my hand is going. I test different locations, different combinations.
That's the charm of the exercise. It's the same in life. Sometimes you're convinced you're right or you're stuck on a problem. The simple act of changing your point of view can unblock the situation.
N°3: Look at things from a distance
Sometimes staying at the same level, even if you change the angle, isn't enough. You have to get up high. Literally, for a jigsaw puzzle. Looking down allows you to see the whole puzzle in progress. It's often necessary to take a step back to analyse your life. You see the big picture and not just the problem that's ruining your life. You start to see possible solutions and that's good.
N°4: Do not force
Who hasn't tried to force 2 pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together? You can feel that it won't fit like Cinderella in her shoe, but you're so fed up that you say to yourself "it's OK, it'll fit". Result: damaged pieces, ruined puzzle.
In life, we tend to do the same thing. When I was a teacher, I wasn't happy. I could feel that it wasn't the right job for me. But I persisted. I persisted because
- society told me it was a good job
- I'd studied for 6 years
- I was afraid of the unknown
I pushed and pushed and pushed... until I burnt out.
N°5: Anti productivity
There are 2 schools of thought when it comes to jigsaws:
- team “I've finished the puzzle and I put it under glass to display on the walls of my living room”
- team “I've finished the puzzle, I destroy it and put it back in its box”
I'm part of the 2nd team, which generally doesn't understand the 1st team. We're not going to get into that debate.
What I'm trying to make you understand is that you don't do a puzzle to produce something. Yes, you want to reach an objective (put the last piece in) but then you destroy it, not like a paint-by-numbers or a macramé that you're going to display at home.
That's what I like best about this activity. It forces to not try to produce something. I do a jigsaw puzzle to relax, to anchor myself in the present moment. And in a society based on hyper-productivity, that feels really good!
My favourites ❤️️
🌟A book : Bournville by Jonathan Coe. The pitch: over the course of several decades, we follow the story of a family living in the centre of England. What makes this book unique and engaging is the juxtaposition between the life of an ordinary family and the major events that have shaped the country. For anyone who loves England and family sagas.
🌟A film: Marcel, The shell with shoes on. I absolutely love this movie. It's tender, it's soft, it's original. A real nugget. PS: hypersensitive people, bring tissues!
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