This Ruined Puzzle...

I guess ruined isn't really the right word to use. It's just the title of a Dashboard Confessional song that I really like. Anyway, I've always had the theory that life is kind of like a jigsaw puzzle. And by puzzle I don't mean confusing or frustrating. I mean that life is like the actual act of putting together a jigsaw puzzle. 

Go with me on this one. 

When you first open the box, there's just a huge jumble of pieces. You look at the picture on the outside of the box and wonder how all those tiny little cardboard squares will ever form anything beautiful. Slowly but surely you begin to find pieces that fit together well and the puzzle begins to take shape. At first you're on a roll, it's fairly simple to find which edges match others. You get to a point where you have big chunks of the puzzle put together and you're starting to feel accomplished. It doesn't matter that there are still 5,000 pieces to go, you've got this. Every so often you find a piece or two that looks as though they will surely fit in one area or another but no matter how hard you push, the pieces don't seem to gel. That's always a little disappointing and can sometimes damage the corners of said piece. If you're like me, sometimes your little brother comes and steals a piece and you have to chase him around until you find it. Some days the dog eats a piece and it seems to throw everything off. As time goes on, you stop focusing on the pieces themselves and on the picture as a whole.Eventually, you're down to the last few pieces. This is the hardest part. You don't have as many choices, which may make it seem easier, but in reality, it's more difficult. Less choices and less space. The best part, though, is when you're finished. Instead of thousands of tiny cardboard pieces, you have a lovely picture and what's better, you're the one who took the time to put the pieces together.