Think
Persistence.

Crossword Puzzling

Almost every morning before going to the office, I work the "USA Today" newspaper's crossword puzzle. Some days, I find that the puzzle seems to solve itself. Other days, I struggle with each and every question and answer. More often that not, I will get a few of the clues correct and then when I return later, the answers to the very clues that previously eluded me seem to present themselves. Once I get one answer completed, often it provides me with the letters that I needed to solve several other clues.

I have found that life is a lot like crossword puzzles. Just as the theme of the "USA Today" puzzle varies each day, so do my "life's" crossword puzzles. I have also found that the ease in solving my life's puzzles also varies. It seems that the more problematic a life issue is for me, the more difficult it is to understand and solve for the clues. It is as though I have to re-read the clue many times before I can understand what it being asked.

Perhaps I have difficulty with these puzzles because I am unwilling to set aside preconceived ideas of what the answers should be. Or I unconsciously distort the question so that the answer completely eludes me. Fortunately, with the newspaper puzzle, I only have to wait until the next day to get the missing words and, with it, a better understanding of the questions. Unfortunately, the solutions to life's puzzles don't come the next day, or even as quickly as I would like.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a dictionary containing all possible solutions to life's puzzles just like the dictionary for crossword puzzles? It would be great to be able to look up a clue and the possible solutions. I could then select one, see if it "fits," and then fill in another blank space in my life. For example, what if I could look up the solutions for "impatience." Would I find suggestions like, "to everything there is a time and a season"? For those days when I don't seem to have a clue as to why I am so scattered in my thinking, perhaps the solutions would include, "where the focus flows the energy goes."

Perhaps that will be another one of my life goals, to develop a dictionary to help with both the "USA Today" crossword puzzles and the "Mary Rau-Foster life" crossword puzzle. In the meantime, I will continue to use a pencil and eraser to rub out my mistakes and allow me to enter the correct responses.

Affirmation for the Week:
 
“Everyday I will voluntarily tackle the crossword puzzle of my life with the intent to answer all of the clues.”
 
Remember... Take good care of yourself during the holidays. Take time to enjoy the goodwill, laughter, and camaraderie at home and at work.
 
Have a correct week!
 
Mary Rau-Foster,

Copyright 2003 by Mary Rau-Foster. All rights reserved.
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