The Puzzle

Ah, puzzles. Love them, hate them, feel apathetic towards them; regardless of our own personal feelings on the matter, they have existed and will likely continue to exist for a long time unless we nuke ourselves out as a species. Confusing, thrilling, yet oftentimes frustrating as well, these specimens form both the bane and backbone of many of our everyday matters.

Puzzles can be classified in at least a few different ways. One could do so by type. One can separate them by geometric shape. One may try to do so by narrative theme — as much as an enigma like a puzzle can possess a linear narrative, anyways. One might even classify them by difficulty level and so forth.

But there is, at minimum, one thing these puzzles all have in common. This is, namely, the presence of problems to solve. Whether simple like combining a nine-piece jigsaw puzzle together or complex like trying to work out a long set of mathematical equations, they are all capable of being messy when unfinished. Indeed, a lot of them are never completed.

So, what are the different types of puzzles in the world of Homo sapiens? This article will go over just that.

This piece is not a substitute for formal guidance or counsel. If you are in serious distress, please seek out the aid of a trained professional.

Physical Puzzles

The most obvious puzzles are directly physical in nature. They are tangible in terms of touch, being easy to feel with one’s skin and/or analyze with one’s basic senses. These might be the first things you think of when you hear the word “puzzle.”

A common example is the classic jigsaw puzzle. First created in the 18th and 19th centuries, they have come to become one of humanity’s most popular forms of simplistic entertainment.

Broken yet carefully constructed, they are frequently used by children as a form of leisure and play. Not only that, but adults and teenagers also toy with them as well — albeit perhaps while supervising those more youthful in their midst or in more complex form.

Metaphorical Puzzles

Unlike the above, these kinds aren’t as physically touchable as their less figurative counterparts are. Rather, they are cloaked in metaphor and/or mystery.

These could be written problems of mathematics intended to be solved by their encounterers. They might be riddles told around the campfire on a cool night in the gentle breeze just before autumn heralds its beginning. Perhaps they’re mind games to be finished, or social situations to carefully navigate.

Regardless of what exactly they are, metaphorical puzzles are more…abstract. They don’t follow a strict set of specific guidelines which could only possibly apply to them like many physical puzzles do.

Sure, there are often broad rules — the way all matter in this universe has laws of science to obey. But these requirements aren’t just as simple as “put this particular piece here and everything will be solved.”

In a way, life can almost be like a puzzle in certain modes and fashions.

You find a way to wake up, get your morning routines and chores done, go to work or classes for the day and deal with the layered papers and/or documents offered in those places (unless you don’t have the obligations of either), try to get home, tend to your obligations once more, eat dinner, finish your evening routines, and finally return to your nightly rest from the waking world.

It isn’t always easy — and it is undoubtedly harder for some than it is for others. In spite of it, though, you keep going. Maybe it’s not at the capacity you wish you’d thrive at, but it’s something.

…

Puzzles are truly everywhere, if you stop and think hard enough.

Any other thoughts on this? Let me know in the comments!

Other Socials

Twitter/X: https://x.com/snarkylisa

Main Tumblr: https://snarkylisa.tumblr.com/

Tumblr version: https://www.tumblr.com/thesnarkerramblings/802511510329032704/the-puzzle?source=share

Medium version: https://medium.com/@SnarkyLisa/the-puzzle-e9f508094ad9