On the last trip my boys and I took to Seattle, Jacob helped finish a complex jigsaw puzzle that my uncle and cousin had been working on for quite some time.
He sat at their table and concentrated on matching up those tiny pieces to just the right places in the picture to complete the scene.
I smiled as I watched him; it brought back wonderful memories for me. I used to sit for hours and work on puzzles when I was his age.
It's been a long time since I've worked a real jigsaw puzzle to completion, but there are plenty of other types of puzzles in life that I've been putting together the past few years.
I am sure many of you can relate to these.
Parenting is a puzzle.
Every day with kids is a puzzle. The number of pieces depends largely on how many kids you have.
Trying to fit in school activities, homework, quality family time, a full-time job, and somewhere in the middle, finding time to rest and take care of yourself, can seem like an impossible feat.
But somehow you do it. Each day you find the pieces that fit together and make it work.
Work is a puzzle.
In my line of work, I'm a problem solver. I have to analyze different situations and work with many areas of the business to figure out the best solution to move things forward.
The pieces are varied and some can almost seem identical, which can make the right combination a challenge to find.
Sometimes it takes days, weeks, or even months to solve these puzzles.
Relationships are a puzzle.
Dealing with other people can be a real challenge. Whether it's family, friends, or our significant others, sometimes it feels like the pieces we are trying to fit together aren't even from the same box.
If you look hard enough though, you can find the pieces that have just the right notch in them, or just the right curve on the end that fits in that open space you've been trying to fill.
The reality is that there will always be puzzles to solve in life.
Some are fun and exciting, and the pieces come together quickly.
Others are frustrating, where there are days when you can't seem to find even a single piece that fits. Sometimes you need to take a break from these puzzles and rest your eyes a bit so you can refocus. Come back to them later with a clear head and you might see that the pieces you were looking for were right in front of you the whole time.
And then there are puzzles in life you just have to be smart enough to decide to not even attempt. The scene on the box may not appeal to you, or the number of pieces is just too many. Trust your gut, and walk away from these. If you started them and realized partway through, don't be afraid to put the pieces back in the box and close it up tight before you walk away. Those aren't your puzzles.
Each puzzle piece signifies a choice or event that builds out your path in life. It's all a part of who you are.
Some will fit on the first try, others won't have a clear place until the puzzle is nearly finished.
And that's all okay.
Enjoy the process and learn as you go. Let the pieces teach you how to flex and see life from different angles.
When you put in that very last piece, take a step back and look at the picture you have created.
See it for it's many shapes, sizes and colors. Marvel at the sharp edges, rounded corners and asymmetrical angles.
And know that your puzzle is put together in exactly the way it was meant to be.
All of it beautiful and all of it unique...just like you.