PUZZLED? By Eric Noel Roman

Hi! Thank you for stopping by, I am so happy to see you picked up this six billion piece puzzle. Glad you have interest in putting together this world. It will take time, patience, and you will have a hard time finding matching pieces. Have no fear, with enough work the masterpiece will come together.

There are many methods to make this work. Some like to group by similar colors. I have seen some that share common characteristics stick together. Others might like to construct the outer limits and work their way towards the center. However your approach to this task is up to you. At every turn of a piece there will be some confusion and sometimes seemingly impossible to match anything. In turn, there will be times where pieces just seem to match up easily. Consider those connections special gifts, set them aside and use them as reference for other areas that you might be having trouble figuring out. Now here is a secret, keep an eye out for pieces that come already attached, because those are great ways to begin new sections of the puzzle. Then there will be times where nothing seems to fit. Take a break and come back to the task later.

I have heard that many people, during the journey of constructing this universe, have had trouble getting into a groove and never really seem to make matches. This is where you will hit a wall and feel like giving up. The pieces giving you a hard time can be set aside into piles of sections that are confusing, or just impossible to decipher how to make them fit. Eventually, these pieces will begin to connect. It might not be your favorite section, but it is still a part of the big picture. Learn how these sections can connect other sections. Eventually everything will come together and you will be done and have this daunting task conquered.

There have been tales of missing pieces or extra pieces. This is where I fell. I have become the extra piece. I am not discouraged by this outcome. I have used it to make my journey even more special, because somewhere in the universe there is a puzzle missing a piece and I will be able to fill that void.

If you feel like you just do not fit in, or having a hard time making connections, do not give up. There are always those puzzle pieces that are in the same situation as you and you will find your place. Just keep searching those spaces and make an attempt to make a connection. If you do not fit, it is ok there is a place for everyone.

Eric Noel Roman DJ, obstacle racer, motivational writer from North Miami Beach, living life one day at a time, and making a difference one person at a time.