Puzzling Covid-19
Life Lessons in play
Do you remember doing puzzles as a family growing up? I sure do! My daddy even made a huge “lazy susan” that was slanted so we could turn the puzzle and see it from different angles. Each of us could be found taking a few minutes to place a piece here and there until one day, it was complete. Life seemed to move at a much slower pace back then.
Fortunately (or unfortunately for some), many of us have seen our life rhythms slow down with the coronovirus. And guess what…in our house, we’ve started doing puzzles again! You see my mom and dad moved from the Midwest just 6 months ago and the 4 of us are “sheltered at home” together. Now, in the evenings, I find myself pulling up a chair to a card table in the living room scattered with 1,000 tiny pieces of jigsaw to join my daddy for puzzling. We study each little piece looking for it’s home. We sit in silence, scanning the table while occasionally looking at the puzzle box for clues about where this one chosen piece fits. Hours go by, with a sporadic burst of excitement when we find the right fit. Or a big groan when a piece “almost” fits, but not quite. The cat jumps up onto the table, startling us and sending the pieces flying. After the ‘kerfuffle’, we settle back into the task of recreating the image on the box.
As I talk with clients and friends, we are all expressing mounting anxieties that continue to bubble up as we move into our 2nd month of sheltering at home. Like most, my greatest source of anxiety is the fear of the unknown. What will happen to my family members who are out of work, my friends who have become “teacher” to their kids ranging from 6-16 years old, to my parents who are at high risk for the virus? These are important questions that need attention, and often action, as we seek to care for one another.
Let’s ALSO ask questions that call us “up” and invite us into hope and growth!
What gifts are you noticing in your life with this “forced” slowing down? How might gratitude practice help you notice the beauty in your world?
What do you see, as the “lazy susan” turns and gives you a new perspective on yourself, on those you love, how you spend your time, what is important and valuable to you?
How do you want to tell the story of this season to your children and grandchildren? What legacies of faith and resilience do you want to leave with those you love?
When all this Covid-19 stuff is over, I would like to give my every day life, my comings and goings, as much time and attention as I’ve given to puzzling. You see, when we slow down to examine our lives, we have the opportunity to create a life worth living. Better yet, when we do so in community, the puzzle pieces come together with even greater satisfaction.
““An unexamined life is not worth living.””
Bringing mindful awareness to our experience, our bodies and our emotions are proven ways to reduce anxiety and increase our “peace quotient”. Pleasant moments, such as puzzling, are much easier to be mindful of than our fears such as how we’ll pay the mortgage or feed the family. Yet, learning to bring courage, attention and wisdom to our lives is immensely empowering and practical. So, why not make space in your days right now to create, reflect, connect or even….puzzle.
And, if you find yourself desiring a deeper level of self understanding and additional coping skills in this season, please contact us at Hope for the Journey. One of our therapists would be delighted to join you on your journey!
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