Okay, so today I decided to tackle something I’ve been putting off for ages – doing a crossword puzzle, and actually finishing it! I used to grab the newspaper, glance at the crossword, maybe fill in a couple of obvious ones, and then get totally stumped and give up. But I’ve been seeing people online talk about how satisfying it is to complete one, and I thought, “Why not give it a proper go?”
I found a crossword online, it seemed pretty standard.
Getting Started (and Getting Stuck)
I started off feeling pretty confident. I scanned through the clues, looking for the easy ones – you know, the short words, the ones that just pop into your head. I filled in a few of those, feeling like a genius.
- “A small drink” (three letters) – SIP. Easy peasy.
- “Opposite of black” (five letters) – WHITE. Boom, another one down.
But then… I hit a wall. There were all these long words, clues that made absolutely no sense to me. Stuff like “Playfully shy” or “Fencing sword”. My brain just froze. I stared at the blank squares, feeling that familiar sense of frustration creeping in.
The Turning Point
Instead of giving up like I usually do, I decided to try a different approach. I started googling some of the clues. I know, I know, some people consider that cheating, but I was more interested in learning and actually finishing the thing than in being a purist.
And you know what? It actually helped! I learned some new words. Like, “Playfully shy” is COY, who knew? And a “Fencing sword” is an EPEE. It’s like my vocabulary expanded, and I was able to add these words and use them as hints!
The Final Stretch
With a few more words filled in, I started to see how the puzzle was interconnected. Words I had already solved gave me letters for the clues I was stuck on. It was like a chain reaction! I kept plugging away, using a combination of my own knowledge, a bit of online help, and the letters I had already filled in.
Slowly but surely, the grid started to fill up. And then, finally, I wrote in the last letter. It was done! I had actually completed a crossword puzzle!
Feeling Accomplished
I have to say, it felt pretty darn good. It wasn’t just about finishing the puzzle, it was about sticking with it, even when I felt like giving up. It was about learning new things and pushing myself a little bit. And sure, maybe I used a little help along the way, but that’s okay. The point is, I did it, and I’m pretty proud of myself. Might even try another one tomorrow!
