A Bag of Puzzle Pieces

This week I felt that everywhere I turned I faced bad news. Reading the local news, my sniffing and coughing children (and wife) and hearing even worse health updates from friends has not made this a hi-light week for the year. The compounded effect makes me want to run away, escape to a calm quiet place where everything is just right with the world. Even if that were possible, it would only be momentary and the weight of reality and responsibility would break through the stillness of that place. Starting with a small voice but eventually being shouted so loudly in my thoughts that I could no longer ignore them. It would be best to face them head-on. Deal with them, move forward and make the best out the circumstances.

Perhaps I think too much. (I know that I do.) Perhaps I am far too sensitive with other people's problems and my level of empathy is detrimental to my own level of happiness. Perhaps that's why I developed my quirky sense of humour; maybe as a coping mechanism or as a way of 'doing my bit' to bring some laughter and joy to others. Maybe I'm over-thinking it, again.

Within all of this I continue to look for my purpose. What am I meant to be doing? I know it's far more than some humorous photo-shop images I put together for laughs. I know that I learn from every experience, every encounter with others. But what is it that I am supposed to do with all of this input? I don't want to reach my last breath still wondering what it is, but rather if there was something over and above what I had done that I could have done more of. I want to have put in the effort to make a difference, to add value. I don't want to waste a single moment on trivial things. I want to be productive, I want to improve myself, I want to improve my surroundings, I want to make the world a better place! Pretty bold purpose, in anybody's book but I believe we all have a role to play in that purpose. Everybody has a bag of puzzle pieces that need to be used at a specific time to make the whole outcome come together. Different puzzle pieces to contribute to different circumstances. You have them all, you just need to decide to use them at the right time. Not putting your piece down may delay somebody else from putting theirs onto the table with a domino-like stalling effect on others and an overall slowing down of the process. When you realise it is time to put your piece down, do it without delay. Play your part, fulfil your purpose and it may just help someone else fulfil theirs. It may also inspire others to look into their bags of puzzle pieces and see what they actually have. No-one has an empty bag! There is always a puzzle being constructed and although interesting to just watch and see how it comes together, how much more rewarding to contribute a building block to that outcome.  Reach into that bag and use your gifts!