As I near the end of my . . . “space” year . . . things are definitely pulling together — a sign of a good year with a word. This year, “space” has taken me in some directions I expected it to. But “space” also convinced me to take a few detours here and there. (Spoiler alert: that’s kinda what you want . . . surprising revelations are The Good Stuff in the word-world.) It’s also validated a few things I already knew or suspected, which really is the icing on the word-cake, y’know?
I mean, take this as an example: I’ve always known that if I can walk away from . . . oh, let’s say a problem, or an idea in its earliest stages, or a tricky puzzle . . . that really is the best way for me to figure things out. I get . . . stuck. I leave things be for a while. And, then, when I return? Voilà! I’ve sorted it through and come up with a solution. (I’m sure this has happened to you, too.)
The tough part, though . . . is the walking away part.
Am I right?
I know it is for me! I just want to plow through and get it finished and Solve.The.Dang.Thing!
I mean . . . take Wordle.
I was NOT an early-adapter when it came to the word game, Wordle. The more people talked about it, the more adamant I became that I would NOT play it. (Yep. That’s me in a nutshell. . . ) I didn’t even know HOW it worked or how to play. I just knew I wasn’t going to play it!
Until one day, far into the Wordle craze, my friend Karel walked me through it, and showed me how to play. She even suggested a few strategies I might employ. My early attempts were . . . meh. Okay enough to get me interested, but nothing to put me in the Wordle Hall of Fame. Some days I played. Some days I forgot. Some days I got the word before my 6 tries were up. Some days I did not.
But then I stumbled upon the biggest Wordle trick of all: I learned to stop myself after my first two guesses – unless I knew with absolute (or pretty absolute) certainty what the Wordle word WAS.
I trained myself . . . to wait.
To give myself . . . SPACE.
I discovered that if I walked away from the Wordle for a while, my brain would just keep working on the Wordle (while I went about my business) (as is the case with so many things). And when I picked the game back up later, I almost always (seriously . . . almost always) solve the damn thing in 3 or 4 tries. (Although – true confessions – there was a day a couple of weeks ago when I got down to my 6th guess and nearly wet my pants with anxiety.) (I got it.) (Phew.)
This “trick” (the walking away) works for most things in my life: crossword puzzles, knitting problems, writing blog posts and book reviews and letters, figuring out our taxes, remembering how to sign into My Medicare. So. Many. Things. Even pretty darn serious things.
All you have to do . . . is walk away.
Put it aside.
Let it simmer.
In other words . . . give it space.
And that . . . is Validation!
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The puzzle at the top of the page? It was the actual Wordle on September 1. I really should have been able to solve it in 2 tries. But at 6:00 am (when I’m usually working on the puzzle with my coffee), I’m not always firing on all cylinders. But. I did walk away after my first two standard word guesses – SLATE and then GRIND (which do generally serve me very well, just sayin) and came back to solve it in 3 tries with SPACE. Which I thought was a pretty fun coincidence!
This reminds me of Anne Lamont’s advice – turn it off or unplug and it usually will be better when your restart. I haven’t intentionally resister Wordle but I absolutely get that push back.
A VERY fun coincidence! And such a fun pic for the post. I love how you link it all together here.
I felt the same about Connections. My aunt nudged me to play. And I HATED it! (It spotlighted how weak my ‘think outside the box’ muscle actually is.) I came and went, tried again, and then one day, I suddenly loved it. It’s my favorite now, of the three I play every morning.
‘Walk Away’ resonates…lots. (Never fails me.) Easy for the small stuff. Even not-so-small. Where I tend to forget is w/ hard conversations. I’m getting a little better at it. But it’s…more challenging.
I have found that I will “dream up” a solution to a problem while I am sleeping. 9 times out of 10, it works.
I remember suggesting that you try Wordle and you told me flat out nope. LOL. I’m glad you’ve come to enjoy it and I almost always start with SLATE, too. Sometimes ADIEU instead but, while that gives me a good hint on the vowels involved, it doesn’t really help me solve the puzzle quickly. I don’t often walk away from Wordle but I almost always walk away from Connections. (I was like you with that one and refused to play because everyone kept suggesting I play it but I finally broke down a few months ago and now I start my day with both.) Anyway. Your Wordle example of how space can help us figure things out is terrific.
I always changed up my Wordle word and then knowing piano had not been used I stuck with it for a couple of months. Sure enough it came through about a week ago…getting a 1 is a great way to start the day. Connections is my cocktail companion. 😉 And I agree with the making space strategy!
I don’t play Wordle (and don’t think I ever will) but I do employ the walk-away strategy. In fact, the older I get, the more I find that saying nothing and “sleeping on it” literally or figuratively often works surprisingly well!
I made your blog! I suppose now I’m famous, huh? Anyway, my best Wordle streak is 103. Then, early this month, I once again reached a streak of 103 and was stoked to go higher. So, I won my next game, bringing my streak to 104… except it congratulated me on my streak of 1. WTF? Turns out I’d forgotten to play what would/should/could have been my 104th win. I was unreasonably upset about this, and every time I played I told myself what my streak WOULD have been, reaching 119. Then missing a day again, bringing me back down to one. After that loss, I laughed at myself. So, I’ve walked away from my streak obsession. (What, you thought I was going to say I walked away from Wordle? No way!) I also remind myself that if I’d played that 104th day, I could easily have lost, blowing the streak anyway.
p.s. To be clear (because I wasn’t with my first comment) I’ve reached a streak of 103 TWICE before falling back down to one. Guess I haven’t totally walked away from my streak obsession.
Yes to giving SPACE to so many things. It almost always works! I love the NYT puzzles – the only one I do not “do” is Vertex. I often start Wordle with Trail
Ooh slate is a good first word. I usually use crest but like to shake things up every so often.
All. Of. This! That walk away strategy… so hard, but so crucial! (For me, especially!!) If I am struggling… with almost everything; I take a bit of a break and when I return I am ready to readdress the challenge! Space… such a great word! XO
These comments are so fun – love how Wordle and strategies of play mingle right there with the wisdom of our words! (also, I don’t play anymore but when I did my starting word was SPARE … I think it’s fascinating that some folks don’t have a starting word, and some folks are committed to the same one every day.) I’ve enjoyed following your SPACE journey this year, especially seeing how you gave yourself physical, mental, and emotional space, and how giving space didn’t result in crowding someplace else … miraculously, it seemed to create MORE space!
More than once I have been discussing something random, not topical (coats, say, or elephants) and when I turn on the tv that word/ topic almost immediately comes up. Either I’ve been (a) watching too much tv or (b) I’m clairvoyant. B is not likely but still, there seems to be a lot of coincidence in this world. (Vying for the parking same space doesn’t count.). “Space” is my favorite of your Words so far. Can’t wait to see the next one. There is a Whole Lot we don’t know about the brain. I’m sure word games can give clues to a lot of it. Including how we learn language in the first place. It’s a miracle when you think about it. Chloe
Same parking space…just had a word hiccup there:).
I also have found letting a problem sit is a very good strategy – giving it space, as you say. I think knitting first taught me this technique. Now it’s almost a rule with me — if something goes quite wrong, I make myself wait to choose a way to fix it. This also keeps me from doing something in a panic that I will later regret.
Clearly Wordle was sending you a message! I very much appreciate your reflections on Space, because I often struggle with walking away from a problem despite knowing that often walking away is the best way to solve it. I have to remember that more and trust in my brain to keep working!
The walk away strategy is a good one. Taking a walk is another. I never listen to anything while walking. It’s such a productive thinking or meditative time for me. The first words in Wordle are interesting. I’ve always used Adieu. Story is another.
My start word is always SLATE. At this point it feels like a different word would be bad luck! LOL My streak is 281. I use the walk away tactic and also type in words and look at them (not hitting return) and try another until something LOOKs right. My last long streak ended when I forgot/didn’t have time for the puzzles. Boo
Your journey with Space has been a great one to follow. You do so much with your word and learning about how you work with your word is helpful for me, too.