While the rest of the neighborhood was capitalizing on the warmish weather to put up outdoor Christmas lights, I was spending more time at my kitchen counter than I care to admit working a jigsaw puzzle. Not any puzzle, but a Christmas puzzle. I’m afraid that I’m destined to be one of those senior citizens at the old folk’s home, working puzzles in the family room all day. There is nothing cool about doing puzzles. It’s another of those quaint ancient pastimes. But it’s also a Christmas tradition for me.
A puzzle on a table is irresistible. I think I’m only going to put in a few pieces while I eat my bowl of oatmeal, but I get sucked in. It’s like meditating – your brain can’t be worrying about something silly while working out the way pieces need to fit together. You need to concentrate and visualize. It induces a trance fairly quickly.
Fortunately, psychologists think puzzles are good for us, increasing concentration and expanding our creativity. They think it’s a great way to hold off diseases like Alzheimer’s too. That over-simplifies Alzheimer’s I’m sure, but I’m all for things that preserve brain activity. Especially at the crazy holiday season.
A puzzle on a table is irresistible. I think I’m only going to put in a few pieces while I eat my bowl of oatmeal, but I get sucked in. It’s like meditating – your brain can’t be worrying about something silly while working out the way pieces need to fit together. You need to concentrate and visualize. It induces a trance fairly quickly.
Fortunately, psychologists think puzzles are good for us, increasing concentration and expanding our creativity. They think it’s a great way to hold off diseases like Alzheimer’s too. That over-simplifies Alzheimer’s I’m sure, but I’m all for things that preserve brain activity. Especially at the crazy holiday season.