Working on Puzzle number 3 this winter. This one is Niagara Falls. See a theme? I like puzzles of places we've been. I was born a couple miles from Niagara Falls and my first home was a small cottage on the Niagara River, just upstream from the falls (now there are bazzilion $$ mansions there and I think the cottage is a guest house, or servant's house). My mom would ride me on her bike to the falls and back. I was 2 when we moved to Nebraska so my childhood "memories" of Buffalo and Niagara Falls are limited to the pictures my parents have.
But, we've taken our family up there a couple times and enjoy the splendor of the falls as well as the tasty food up there. Buffalo Wings!!! They really did start up there and a place called Anchor Bar and Grill is accepted to be the original home of the wings. BUT a place called Duffs has the best wings. Mmmmmm!!! But, that's not it. Anderson's Frozen Custard and Ted's Hot Dogs. These places have been around at least 50 years and there is a reason.
Anyway, Riley and I were doing the puzzle last night. She got it started and then I jumped in. After a while, she was done. And so was I. Puzzles are fun BUT after you've been working on the same puzzle for a while, you need a break. Sometimes you just can't find the piece you are looking for. Or, your eyes need a break. When you come back to it later, its easy to jump back in and often that piece you couldn't find is right there, in front of you. You just needed a break. You needed to step away for a moment. Maybe 15 minutes. Maybe 2 hours. Maybe a day.
Life can be the same. Lot's of puzzles being put together. Kid's school and sports schedules. Work. church stuff. family stuff. If you just keep on working on those puzzles without a break, you will get worn out. Your eyes will hurt. Your head will hurt. Your back will hurt. And you'll probably experience quite a bit of frustration.
Often stepping a way can help you be a more effective "puzzle assembler". Ideally, you plan ahead and schedule moments to step away. 15 minutes during the day. 2 hours. 1/2 a day. A full day. A week. Stepping away can be critical to your effectiveness. Even if it's stepping away from something that is leisurely and fun.
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