Crosswords Puzzles: Life Lesson found in 8-Across
#crosswords #patience #spellingbee #inspirationalquote #quoteoftheday #motivation #meditation #yoga #wisdom #earthling
Anyone else find crossword puzzles weirdly comforting? Someone out there sat down, filled a grid with obscure trivia and clever facts—and then handed it over for us to solve. It’s just a puzzle, sure, but also a test of memory, patience, and whether you stash alternative phrases for words like summertime.
Crosswords are mental yoga. A place where pop culture, literature, and Latin plant names battle it out for space on the grid. One minute you’re gracefully solving; the next, you’re wondering if “emmer” is really a word.
What makes crosswords so magical isn’t just the rush of filling in the last square (although, running a victory lap is kind of fun). It’s the journey of solving. Each clue is a riddle, each answer a win. (“Did you know ‘emmer’ is an ancient grain? No? Please let me tell you about 5-Down…”)
The New York Times keeps things fresh with new puzzles like Strands—a daily word search based on a theme. One puzzle I loved from last year was called Who on Earth. The puzzle’s theme was a twist on the phrase, referring to both people’s names and things found on earth: flowing water (Brook), trees and plants (Willow, Laurel, Holly), even a fruit/tree hybrid (Clementine). It was playful, and a reminder of how words and meanings can connect in surprising ways.
Crosswords remind us that patience isn’t just a nice trait—it’s a strategy. Hitting a snag isn’t failure; it’s part of the deal. So here’s to the humble crossword: part brain workout, part life coach found in 8-Across.
Clue: Instagram dye run filter
Answer: COLORLEAK
*Ran my illustration through Instagram’s Color leak filter :)
Original IG post by @colinking. Adapted my version with Iceland Poppies among other scribbly edits.
NYT’s Who On Earth December 24, 2024 puzzle (hints + answers via LifeHacker)
