Sometimes doing little things can help in life as much as doing big things. The other day, I realized how daily online solving of the New York Times’ mini crossword puzzle (as opposed to the regular puzzle) has reinforced five important life lessons…
Slowing down – There’s one way to ensure I do bad on this bite-size crossword grid: go too fast. In my quest for speed (yes, I’m always aiming for a good time score), I take dumb guesses, put in the wrong letter, or glance at too many clues at once. All these fumbles waste seconds. Instead, to do a better job, I’ve learned to go slower and think more carefully.
This can be true in life as well. When younger, I loved multi-tasking to the point of exhaustion. I once had an older co-worker say to me: “Want to know the best way to go faster?” I nodded, eager to get some cool new efficiency tip. She smiled. “Slow down.” At first, I didn’t get it, but then I did—and never forgot (except sometimes when I’m doing the mini puzzle).
Forgiving yourself—Sometimes the puzzle shouldn’t be that tough for me, but it is. I’ll fall into despair. Maybe I’ve lost my touch. Maybe I’ll never solve mini crossword puzzles again. But I remind myself that most days are fine.
This feeling is all too true in life as well. Especially as a writer, you learn early to be kind to yourself. Some days are full of optimism and hope. Other days I feel like dumping my laptop in the trash. Forgiveness of self and our weaknesses is essential. We’re all doing our best. And like anything, we must just keep going.
Knowing your limits— We all have blind spots. When it comes to crossword puzzles, mine are sports and pop culture. Those clues are usually filled in by default, lots of guesses, or the occasional peek at Google.
Knowing our limits helps with life too. I know people who are constantly active and doing fun, exciting things. I find myself envious until I remember I’m a homebody. I couldn’t keep up with their busy social and travel schedules if I tried. Knowing my limits, especially as I’ve grown older, helps a lot.
Moving on – I’ve learned to never linger forever on one puzzle clue, trying to solve something that doesn’t want to be solved. Sometimes moving on is the best strategy.
This happens with other problems too. Maybe the best way to solve most dilemmas is to temporarily forget about it. Go to a movie. Take a walk. Get a good night’s sleep (when possible). Let your subconscious have a go. It’s amazing how many times I’ve stepped away, and the solution was waiting for me when I returned, as if to ask, “What took you so long?”
Savoring the victories – Once in a great while, there’s that puzzle that just works. You whiz through those across clues, like a knife going through soft butter, not even having to look at the downs. One time I finished in under 30 seconds, a record. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s fun when it does. I’ve learned to savor those tiny but meaningful triumphs.
And that’s true for much of life. Occasionally, something works out perfectly. That doctor visit you dreaded turns out quick and easy. The house repair you expected to be crazy expensive comes out reasonable. The big party full of strangers ends up fun. I’ve learned to savor these big and small victories with a reward—a chocolate ice cream cone comes to mind.
Funny how small things can teach big lessons.
Do you have your own life and puzzle hacks? Comments are always welcome and if you’d like to receive posts by email, just press here.
