I’m really not a puzzle person.
The idea of spending hours, days, months digging through minuscule pieces and jamming them together only to fail 34,597 times before finally finding their limb mates isn’t appealing. Some say it’s cathartic. I call it stressful.
I do, however, appreciate that the finished result is a tangible work of art to show for the time and effort put in. Though IDK what people actually do with completed puzzles…!? I guess that’s not the point.
Despite my personal aversion to them, I found myself surrounded by puzzles during the holiday break. My mom got one. She set it up on the table across from the kitchen, enthusiastically inviting anyone who walked through the door to contribute to the project. It was a cute gesture. I’ve admittedly not added one single piece.
“It may take me the rest of 2026 but I’m going to do this,” she laughingly declared.
Then, upon visiting dear friends in Brooklyn on New Year’s Eve, I discovered they were working on a puzzle as well. Their progress was quite impressive: in just a couple days, I could start to see the image of an enchanted living room come to life. And though I promise you I also didn’t touch a piece of that WIP, somehow one of the pieces made its way into my overnight bag — a realization I didn’t come to until I was back on Long Island. Luckily I was able to return the coveted missing piece to its rightful owners. A couple days later, they sent me a photo sans one other piece that was apparently also missing. That one was eventually found, too.
Somewhere between my mother’s slow but steady commitment and my friends’ complete picture, I realized the value of puzzles, even if I myself will never be a fan of actually doing them (but maybe that can change?).
They’re about patience. Trusting that something exists even when all you can see are fragments. There’s also something beautiful in knowing you might only ever place a few pieces — or none at all (lol) — and yet still be a contributor to someone’s story.
Puzzles remind us that progress is steady. They are a signal of momentum (even when it seems like little progress is being made), and a reminder to trust the process. Scattered pieces across the table are evidence that work is happening, even if the picture isn’t clear yet.
And, usually, what’s missing will eventually turn up.
A great reminder for 2026, I’d say.
Now onto this week’s featured guest…
Featuring Ashley Jordan
Speaking of trusting the journey, Ashley went from fan fiction to her debut novel “Once Upon a Time in Dollywood,” a path she credits heavily to her experience with LitUp by Reese’s Book Club, during which she gained Jasmine Guillory as a mentor and a whole lot of insight about the intricacies of the publishing industry. Above all, she looks back at writing her first book with appreciation and associates it with necessary healing and self-worth work (which also happen to be big themes of the novel itself).
Upcoming events for your calendar:
HERspire’s Brush & Bond (January 17, London) - *Use code HSBB10 for 10% off*
Curator Summit (January 24, Atlanta)
Fundhership: The Connectionship (January 25, London)
Femmeland at Sea (February 20-23, Miami to Nassau, Bahamas)
Black Women in Food Summit (April 23-25, Washington D.C.)
Some job opportunities I’m seeing:
News Editor - The 19th
Senior Manager, Influencer Marketing - Expedia
Newsletter Strategy & Growth Manager - Condé Nast
Consumer Communications Manager - Substack
Brand Content Partner - Opal
Creator Host - The Washington Post
Director, Social Media - Tinder
Senior Social Media Journalist - Betches
Home Projects Editor - Apartment Therapy
Stella Selects:
Nominations are open for the 9th Annual Black Women in Food Awards
EBONY Voices: Building a Home in Altadena Was Their Ancestor’s Legacy, Choosing To Stay is Theirs
Till next time x
Bri
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.