Life is A Puzzle

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“Learn how to see, realize everything connects to everything else.” – Leonardo da Vinci

We did a few puzzles in the past couple of weeks while we were on vacation at the beach. Mostly Miss O and I chipped away at them with occasional assists from Mr. D and friends that came up to visit.

Five things I noticed about how doing a puzzle is like life. Or how life is like a puzzle.

  1. When you first sit down, all the pieces look the same and it feels impossible. The puzzle doesn’t start itself. Having an approach like turning all the pieces right side up and putting together the border pieces together makes it feel doable.
  2. You don’t find a piece unless you look. Sure, every once in a while you might get lucky and find something that fits as you walk by. But mostly, you have to be in the game if you want to make a match.
  3. There are many ways to find a piece – by color, by shape, by content. This reminds me of perspective and how we all see things differently.
  4. You can’t make something fit no matter how much you want it to. It goes easier when you honor the “no’s” in life.
  5. There’s nothing like the feeling of slotting in the last piece. But you can relish the satisfaction of connecting any two pieces if you aren’t too much in a hurry to get to the big picture. Enjoy the little moments.

I keep learning that playing IS life. It seems like we are just spending idle time but really we are gaining perspective on everything else. Because at least for me, those moments when you see the big picture help to inspire the awe in the everyday.

Just like the photo on the front of the puzzle box helps when putting it together. Right?

(featured photo is mine)

You can find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/ and Instagram @wynneleon

I host the How to Share podcast, a podcast about collaboration – in our families, friendships, at work and in the world.

I also co-host the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast, an author, creator and storytelling podcast with the amazing Vicki Atkinson.

84 thoughts on “Life is A Puzzle”

  2. Nice Wynne! (And great job on what looks like a difficult puzzle too!) I’d like to add to “honor the no’s” by pointing out that when we fail to do that, not only will the pieces not fit, they’ll also get damaged if we force them together too hard.

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  3. Delightful life analogy Wynne. Thank you.
    While each of our Life’s Puzzles has a definite border; no 2 have all the same pieces; they’re only layed out one day at a time; and the final piece completes a unique picture for others to ponder when we’re forever rejoicing in Eternity.

    Keep Looking Up ^ … His Best is Yet to Come!

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  8. “You have to be in the game.” Perfect, Wynne. I’d add one more thing about puzzles. You have to have the courage to see (or face) the big picture, not put your head in the sand. Thanks, Wynne.

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  9. Wonderful post Wynne thank you!
    There is right or wrong way to live as long as you don’t hurt people.
    Some things are not meant to be understood i reckon.
    Just show up and try, trying is so very important!
    Have a good week xo

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  11. Wynne, I love your take on how play not only is an important part of life, but how it can help us to learn about ourselves and to see the bigger picture in life. Play is a vital part of life, it not only offers opportunities for learning but healing too. I’m thinking about the power of dance, singing, playing music, writing, and making art, how those things not only entertain us, they speak to our spirits and help us to heal and to grow.

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  16. Now if only we had the big picture for our puzzle box of life, so we knew what it’s supposed to look like when done… 🥰 Love all the other ‘pieces’ of life you put together for us, Wynne.

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  18. Great analogy, Wynne. I like my puzzles too. Have you ever tried online puzzles? Not only are the pieces easier to see, but you can stop at any time and pick up where you left off without the mess or worrying about losing any pieces. The site I like is jigidi.com. They have small, medium, and large puzzles (people submit them) on just about everything. One of my favorite parts is that the pieces make a satisfying connecting sound when they go together. That cuts down on the guesswork of wondering if pieces fit.

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  20. This post complements the lovely photo you posted on IG of Miss O working on the puzzle. Love the perspective and the Da Vinci quote. We can’t find perspective and figure things out without living life and without trying. What a gift it is to get the chance to work on the puzzle of our lives.

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  22. Wynne, I read this yesterday morning and smiled. Putting a puzzle together is really following an algorithm we learned a long time ago. All those pieces right out of the box is an overwhelming feeling. But if we start small; and put the edge together, slowly, but surely things come and into focus. Enjoy every moment of putting the puzzle together. Peace, not piece.

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  23. Great analogy, and so true! I’ve always loved jigsaw puzzles, but never considered how the same principles of puzzling apply to life. Beautiful observations!

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  24. this is so good, wynne. I love puzzles too, and these are great comparisons. one other thing I’ve learned from doing puzzles: when I’ve done as much as I possibly can at one time, I leave it to sit, walk away from it, and come back later, and then things seem much clearer and I’m able to finish it. never fails.

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  27. Love this analogy, Wynne! This made me laugh: “The puzzle doesn’t start itself.” Right! I’m grateful to have enjoyed puzzles as a kid and your article highlighted how much learning can happen when playing. Something we should never stop doing. 🧩👍🏻

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  28. I love everything about this, Wynne. We had a puzzle table set up at our beach house and anyone who wanted to would work on the puzzle when they were there. I was one of the few who did. It took a few years to finish some puzzles, because we weren’t there often. There’s another lesson on long term goals and sticking to them.

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    1. Ah yes – long term goals. I love that addition. And that you just let them stay there for years until they were done. Because some things take patience and space. Beautiful, Gwen!

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  29. Love this one Wynne. I grew up in a puzzle family and find the process of opening the box, turning the pieces and spending days putting them all in place to be quiet relaxing. Therapeutic in some ways. You make such good points about the connection of puzzle working and life. I love the one about not finding what you are looking for if you don’t look. So true. Hope all is well with you and yours. Hugs, C

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  30. I was never a big puzzle guy because I thought, What am I going to do with them when I’m done? I guess I’d just put them back in the box, but I never found them that interesting. Still, I definitely see your point. Having a big picture (vision and purpose) is very helpful in life.

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    1. You have a good point about the utility of puzzles. I think some people might do them repeatedly but that seems not as much to me. Fortunately someone near me runs a “little free library” dedicated to puzzles so it offers an alternative to exchange them.

      But you’re right about vision!

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  33. I love this, Wynne! Historically, I’ve veered away from intricate puzzles because they must be left out somewhere on a table while being worked on and I am a neat freak, or that’s what I’ve always told myself. I always like doing puzzles with my grandkids though, which is interesting. I am always so glad when they figure out a strategy or just the delight in their expression when they find the right piece. I always say I’m not good with spatial concepts, but perhaps I’ve been kidding myself. Your take on it makes me rethink my attitude!

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