Puzzle pieces

There is a certain spirituality in the process of putting a jigsaw puzzle together, I think. I've recently developed a keen interest in them - something about the creation process has drawn me in.

I always start with the border - looking for pieces that have a straight edge... boundaries. Learning where we fit in, how we operate and interact within our different communities, and how and when we choose separation from others.

Then I start to find pieces that are colored similarly, grouping them together, hoping that they fit well and belong together. We develop our identities through our groups, our circles, and within these, we hope we find a community of good-fit and belonging. However, even within each person, there are different groups we belong to, and different identities we take on, depending on who we are with, and the situation we are in. The different clusters of jigsaw pieces join together to form a bigger picture - the lifelong process of integrating the different aspects of our lives holistically contributes to shaping who we are as an integrated individual.

As the process continues, there have been moments when I've found myself feeling dizzy and needing to take a break from the process which I've subconsciously been consumed by - the level of concentration can be exhausting. Self-care, a component we often tend to somehow be most willing to sacrifice before all else, is essential to us being effective in our work, healthy in our relationships, and balanced in our lives. Quality self-care is necessary for us to live in right relationship with the world.

Until the puzzle is complete, there's typically no way for me to know if I have all the pieces present, or if I'm missing any piece (such is the concern purchasing a used puzzle from a thrift store). There is an eagerness; a sense of anticipation throughout the entire process - I could try to count all the pieces beforehand, but I prefer to focus on the process - I could be (and have been) surprised by a complete puzzle, or I could be left with empty spaces. Sometimes, right at the brink of giving up finding that one missing piece, I see it laying in the corner patiently, waiting to be discovered - hope. Sometimes the piece is lying right in front of me, but I miss it in my impatience and narrowed vision, and I end up expending unnecessary energy searching for something that has been right in front of me all along.

Sometimes I cheat and look at the picture provided on the box, hoping to gain some guidance and direction in moments of desperation and when I'm feeling discouraged. I can think of many people in my life who I've sought and gained guidance and direction from - people that kept me going, like water stops during a marathon, and people who have unintentionally but undeniably left a deep impression on who I am today. We don't have to do everything by ourselves, and if allow the concept of individualism and self-righteousness to break down, "cheat" a little in life by accepting help, guidance and a different perspective, maybe we will be able to move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and direction, energized by relationships and diversity.

Some puzzles take a longer time than others to complete - some are more difficult than others. We may take a different approach with some puzzles - some have words, some have color patterns, some are really oddly-shaped. Each puzzle is different and unique, each puzzle has a different surprise in store for us, and at the end of each process, the sense of satisfaction is uniquely distinct. Sometimes it takes a longer time for us to find that missing puzzle piece, and sometimes we don't ever find it, so we may choose to fill it in some other way, or leave it open as a reminder that not everything in life is flawless or best-fit, and there's always something deeper we long for; some mystery within ourselves and others that we may do best to continue to live in wonder of.