I Find That Rather Puzzling

During the COVID-19 Pandemic I developed a penchant for doing jigsaw puzzles.  Sometimes the fact that I engage in this pastime is bewildering to people, since I obviously am incapable of moving my hands.  The workaround is quite simple, I have people help me arrange the pieces so that they are displayed in such a manner that they are easily visible to me, and then I find connections and instruct people as to how to complete them.  It has actually become quite a fun group activity, given that I cannot work on puzzles independently.

In any case, I suspect that some people would find it difficult to work on puzzles in such a manner, without being able to readily move and test pieces.  I will admit there are certain types of puzzles, those that do not have distinct pictures, or those with pieces that lack unique shapes, that are not particularly easy for me to work on with my individualized method.  Those few exceptions aside, however, I believe that the way in which I perceive the world and problems in general makes it quite easy for me to puzzle hands-free.

I have come to realize that I approach much in life as seemingly disparate elements that need to be put together into a more complete picture.

The other night, my nurse remarked on the fact that I am able to put pieces of information together in like manner to putting pieces of a puzzle together.  I cannot deny that she was on to something; I believe this is largely a result of my "science" brain.  Thinking in questions and trying to figure out the nature of how things work has been a default mode for me since I was a child.  This methodology was cultivated through years of studying science and in turn the scientific method.  Without going into too much detail as to how scientists approach phenomenon, suffice it to say that the scientific approach looks at problems and tries to find various solutions, both within what might be expected, as well as outside of what one might predict.  Sound ambiguous? While I will not deny the ambiguity of that description, I do believe it captures how being trained in scientific disciplines has helped me be successful at completing jigsaw puzzles, despite my unconventional approach, because it helps me see things from multiple perspectives.

Making order out of chaos.

The links between the way my brain naturally thinks and the way it has been trained to solve problems through years of study aside, I have come to realize that I approach much in life as seemingly disparate elements that need to be put together into a more complete picture.  This was something that I had never truly considered until my nurse made her astute observation.  I suppose it comes down to the fact that rather than stopping when I find something curious, I immediately and subconsciously begin trying to solve the puzzle.  Not everything I find puzzling is excessively deep or complicated, but if it is something that I have not figured out, it sparks my brain to begin a journey of investigation and discovery. 

Far be it for me to suggest that everyone ought to look at the world as I do, but should you ever find yourself bored, consider trying to figure out something new.  Not only is the practice a fantastic mental exercise which increases your knowledge, it also makes the world a more fascinating place. When you are perpetually finding and solving mysteries, you have the opportunity to be astounded by the natural phenomena which surrounds us, and suddenly the world seems filled with far more wonder and serves to delight!