Last year, my daughter brought me this lovely puzzle from her visit to Monet’s house and gardens.
I love puzzles, and while I could tell from the picture it would be quite a challenge, I felt I was up for it.
Only the puzzle’s dimensions didn’t fit my puzzle table.
After much dithering, I bought a separate tabletop puzzle board that seemed to be the right size. When it arrived, I began.
The problem is, I didn’t get very far! All the colors were so similar. And many simply blended in with the light gray felt background of the puzzle board. Ugh. Plus, that board wasn’t as sturdy as my puzzle table. And the drawers for the pieces were smaller and harder to slide in and out.
Still, I persevered.
Until we got busy. And the barely outlined puzzle sitting in my living room drove me crazy. So one day I eased the flaps over the board and carried it to my bedroom, intending to slide it beneath my bed and give myself some time away from it.
Only it didn’t fit flat through the doorframe. And when I tilted it. . .
I’m sure you can imagine.
I shoved the mussed up board and all the pieces under my bed. And forgot about it. Mostly.
Except failing at something—especially something I enjoy and consider myself good at—didn’t sit well. Now, with a few months of little to no travel ahead, I finally pulled the puzzle out again. I salvaged as many of the already put together pieces as I could. I got rid of the puzzle board I didn’t like. And I cleared off my breakfast bar and set up the puzzle there—the black countertops offering a nice contrast to the mostly pastel pieces.
I began again.
I’ve already made more progress this time than last time. And I feel more hopeful that I will reach my goal.
I’m glad I put the puzzle away when I was frustrated. I’m glad I took a break from it for several months. But I’m also glad that when at first I didn’t succeed, I decided to try again!
Of course, this principal can apply to so many things in life. It certainly did with my writing! After I finished my first novel, back in 2002, I went to a conference and pitched it to editors and agents. When I got all the rejections, I put that one away and started again. Another finished novel. More rejections. Another completed novel. And another. Four total tucked in a drawer before I sold my first book, Wings of a Dream, to Bethany House. I stand in my office and look at that book cover when I need to remember that it never hurts to try again.
Have you put aside anything lately that you need to pick up or pull out and try again?