When I realized our hospital stay would be longer than expected, I bought a 1000 piece puzzle to pass the time. It was an activity that was quiet, yet brought forth much conversation.

As I stared at all the pieces and began to separate them, my mind started comparing life to this puzzle. The puzzle is much like nursing, practicing medicine, or even life in general.
In the beginning all of the uncertainty of where each piece should go can be overwhelming.

Like this puzzle, we all have pieces. They are jagged in some places and well-rounded in others. Some fit together effortlessly, while others you have to turn every which way for it to lay in place it belongs- just as it is supposed to.

At times you think you know exactly what piece should work in a hole, and then the color scheme shifts on you. Other times, a piece may slide too easily into place, and on further inspection there are gaps signifying – that while it fits, it doesn’t belong.

Brene Brown spoke about belonging and fitting in. Fitting in is when you match or change to become more like those around you. Belonging is when you show up as you are, and you have a place.

Be sure to view the puzzle from different angles when you are stuck. Step back from it for awhile, but don’t give up on it. Sometimes a change in perception is all that is needed. Sit patiently with it, knowing in due time the pieces will snap into their rightful place if you don’t quit. And when you forget what the big picture is supposed to look like, like up and remember what you’re working to achieve.

Know your biases and check them at the door. None of the puzzle pieces are made the same or made to make the same picture or work of art. The most loved are the edge pieces as they see easy to spot and the first to make the border. But none the less, even the jagged pieces are needed to make us complete, and sometimes the missing piece is the one that is right in the center and holds the heart of the lion.