Puzzling reflections

By Lavern Nissley

Not everyone enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles. I didn't grow up with them as Ronda did. But I have come to enjoy the challenge and synergy of working together on a puzzle until the very last piece is inserted. It's been good for our marriage, and it has extended to a fulfilling family activity with our granddaughter, Ali, age 10.

What is it about puzzles that bring such fulfillment and a sense of achievement? Why even spend the time putting one together when you just pull it apart and put it back in the box when done? Are there actual physiological and psychological benefits?

​Here are a few observations about puzzles:

• It sure helps to have a picture of the finished project. Not sure we would get very far in a puzzle if we didn't even know what we were trying to put together. I'm glad that we have a "blueprint" of what healthy relationships look like or great examples to follow. So much easier to navigate the challenges and "puzzles" of relationships when we know what we're trying to accomplish!
• What starts out as overwhelming gradually moves to mastery. So true to life, isn't it? Any project or initiative worthy of our time feels daunting at first. So many pieces and options in front of us. Then, we start to see patterns of connection and how things fit together. The last quarter of putting a puzzle together is much more fulfilling and rewarding than the first quarter.
• Completing a puzzle with others is a great metaphor for teamwork. Not everyone has the whole picture, but synergy happens when each team member brings their insights and pieces of the puzzle. The whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts. This is what I enjoy about putting together a puzzle with Ronda. We both bring what we have to the puzzle table. She sees things I don't see and vice versa. Together we're stronger than as individuals.
• I suspect there is a dopamine release whenever a piece is correctly placed. It's a nice alternative to the dopamine rush that we know comes from seeing likes and comments on our social media posts. In other words, there is sheer pleasure in finding and placing the correct puzzle piece! With a 500 piece puzzle, that's a lot of dopamine releases!
• It is good for brain health. Putting together puzzles is a way to stretch and exercise the pathways in our brain. Seeing connections between colors and shapes is an essential part of completing a puzzle. According to Saneco Health, a leader in neurotransmitter testing, both sides of the brain are engaged so that problem-solving and attention span is enhanced. Bill Gates is an avid puzzler. Research also shows that puzzling improves short-term memory and decreases chances of Alzheimer's disease by warding off the plaque that is a marker for the disease.

I'm grateful for the gift of puzzles and the recognition of how they affect my mind, body and spirit. Hopefully, you are able to experience the joy of puzzling, too!

Several recent puzzles completed in our home