There’s something really satisfying about completing a jigsaw puzzle.

Well, any puzzle really. Crossword, soduko, escape room. Or anything like a puzzle that you’re trying to figure out.

Shared time when puzzling

A jigsaw puzzle is nice because it can be easily shared. Set one up in a common area, and people will stop to put in a piece or two or just to chat. They were quite popular in the assisted living where I worked.

You can work on a puzzle alone or with others. It’s one thing you can actively do and still carry on a conversation.

I’ve gone through phases of puzzles during my life. Last winter, I worked on several. Winter is a good time to do them, in my opinion. When it’s dark and cold, a puzzle can keep you company.

I did a couple into the summer. When I moved to Tennessee, my sister had one set up — 2,000 pieces. Since then, we almost always have one set up on the dining room table. We even eat on it, using the puzzle as a placemat of sorts.

Some we box up to pass on to others. Some we coat in Mod Podge and hang up. Those often are the ones missing a piece. We have a “gallery” started in the garage.

We have our favorite brands and art styles. Buffalo has nice quality jigsaw puzzle pieces. We try to avoid images that are overly dark. I prefer to not have to look at the box all the time. We really like it when the puzzle maker includes a folded poster. Some unusually shaped pieces are OK, but completely random ones aren’t as fun.

Personal satisfaction in completing a jigsaw puzzle

It’s satisfying to finish one. Some are easy. Some are hard. The last one was really satisfying to work on. It was a color wheel, so you didn’t need to look at the box. You could get in the groove and find pieces easily. We both really liked that one. If we’d timed it, we probably could have done it in a few hours. Are we getting better? It probably was just an easy puzzle.

We marvel at the puzzlers who can knock out a 1,000-piece puzzle in a few hours. They are the ones who compete.

I’m pretty sure I’ll never reach that level. No desire really.

I’d rather just work on them in my free time, visiting as we go, listening to music, letting my mind wander. Watching the colors change as the daylight changes. Getting lost in the puzzle.

My sister said she does that, and I know what she means. When you work for a while on a particular section, you really get to know it. You kind of block out everything else. The only thing that matters right then is that piece of the puzzle.

It’s kind of like therapy. Or meditation.

When it’s finished, it’s a good feeling.

And then we start another.

Be a Better Writer Tip

You can use your writing to find deeper meaning.

In this column, I wrote about a favorite pastime. But it’s not just about puzzles. I explain why I like them, then give some examples of what is pleasing about them.

By the end, you know doing puzzles is like meditation for me. Or therapy. And it’s satisfying when they are done.

While I don’t explore this further, I certainly could. Perhaps I will at some point.

Much of what I write is self discovery. I’m not always sure what will come out or where I will wind up. Sometimes I do, but not always.

It’s fun — well, interesting anyway — to learn something about myself.

You can do the same. Even if it’s not for publication, you can let yourself go and see where you finish. Pick a topic you like, and write about why you like it. Really think about it. Do you see any themes emerge? Usually the things we enjoy tell us about ourselves on a deeper level.

The same is true for things we don’t like, but writing about those things isn’t as pleasant. If you’re going to try this exercise, do it with something you enjoy first.