Rhi Axtell – Writer

I think it is very ‘on brand’ for me, while writing blogs about taking it slow, and practicing mindfulness, to push myself too hard and end up with a cold.

Yesterday was a day full of cleaning, and exercise, and work, and feeling so proud of myself for ‘being productive’…

Today has me sitting in bed with a cold and sneezing every few seconds. Productivity has ground to a halt as my body tells me, once again, to slow down. A message I repeatedly receive and repeatedly ignore. Interesting, isn’t it?

In an effort to listen to my body, and in the name of slowing down, I started a puzzle with my wife. Usually I don’t like puzzles – I am too easily distracted or bored. But it felt like a good, mindful activity. I could take it slow, place each piece with purpose, and not rush to complete it.

Weirdly, this puzzle came with an instruction manual (do puzzles usually come with instruction manuals? I don’t think so) and I found myself reading it while sipping on some lemon and ginger tea.

It had all the usual stuff you would expect from an unexpected puzzle instruction manual – start with the edges, sort pieces of similar colours together, etc. (Again, do we need instruction manuals with puzzles? It feels like doing a puzzle is so instinctual and yet…)

Anyway, it was the final line of the instruction manual that stuck with me. It read:

Remember, puzzles can be a test of patience and perseverance, so enjoy the process!

This, to me, is the essence of what I am trying to achieve with my writing. I want to enjoy the process, not rush to the end of the book.

So this is the advice I was looking for, and what I needed right at this moment. Strange how the universe sends messages to you, isn’t it?

Even if I continually refuse to listen to those messages.

The puzzle was fun too. Relaxing, even. I think I might do a few more in the future.

See you tomorrow.