I am part of several online puzzle groups. Members can post pictures of the puzzles they are working on, the puzzles they have completed, or a rare out of print puzzle they found at flea market or online. There are also times when someone will say they started a puzzle but it is too hard and they are really discouraged. I have been there. I usually comment for them to walk away from it for a while and when they return they will have a fresh set of eyes. Other members also offer advice such as sorting the different patterns and colors. Yesterday a new member asked why people will post about how difficult a puzzle is or why they want to give up because a puzzle is too hard. He received a flood of responses. Here is mine:

Isn’t that life? Sometimes it is going good, sometimes okay, and other times you want to give up? When that happens you need encouragement from others. You need to be told that everyone experiences ups and downs and you just need to wait it out, keep trying, and you will be okay. The same goes true for working a puzzle.

I didn’t get a response. But that’s fine. The poster received many answers to his question from numerous members. I hope now he has a clearer picture of the puzzle. (Ha! Pun intended. )

I started puzzling during the pandemic because I needed something to occupy my mind. I have continued because I enjoy it. Is every puzzle easy? No. I may post pictures of the completed puzzle but I rarely show the pile of unsorted pieces just out of the box on my dining room table. The completed puzzle may be beautiful and look like it was easy, but that isn’t always the case. Just like when you look at someone else’s life. It may look like someone has it together but it could have taken every ounce of strength they had to walk out the door and face the world this morning.