When I do a jigsaw puzzle, I, like a lot of people, do the edges first. I guess we find that it helps to give structure, plus it’s easier so we feel like we have accomplished something. It’s kind of funny though because a puzzle with just the edges done doesn’t actually look like much because very little of the picture can be seen just by looking at the edges.

For the inside of the puzzle, different strategies exist. Some people look for the patterned pieces because they find it easier to connect the lines and shapes. Others strive to create large cohesive blocks often focusing on areas of the same colour and then just seeing which pieces fit together. There is the edge-in approach which continues by finding the pieces that fit onto the already completed edges. I have also witnessed the trial-and-error random piece approach - this is often a slow and painstaking way to go. I’m sure there are others.

I guess I have jigsaw puzzles on the brain. In a funny way they remind me of life and the way we approach personal development. Of course, in both if there is even one piece missing, it can’t be complete even if we can pretty much see the entire picture.