21/08/2025
The Puzzle of Us
I have always seen the world differently than most. To me, our differences are not inconveniences to be smoothed away, nor obstacles to overcome. They are treasures — essential parts of a design far greater than any one of us can imagine.
The way I picture it is like this:
I see the world as one enormous, magnificent puzzle. A puzzle so vast that when all the pieces connect, it forms the most breathtaking work of art.
Now, think of each of us as one of those puzzle pieces. Every single person carries their own unique shape, edges, and colors. Some have bold shades, others soft hues. Some pieces have unexpected curves or sharp corners. Some fit easily with those around them; others take time to find their place.
But here’s the truth: every piece must be unique in order for the full picture to come together. If every puzzle piece looked the same, what would happen? You wouldn’t know where to put them. The puzzle wouldn’t form a picture at all. It would just be a mess of sameness, with gaps that could never be filled. Instead of a masterpiece, you’d be left with nothing more than a meaningless blob.
That’s why our differences matter. That’s why you matter.
The Beauty of Belonging
Some puzzle pieces look a little alike, and they gather close together in the same area of the picture — maybe forming the sweep of a blue sky, or the curve of a mountain, or the folds of a forest. In the same way, some of us find comfort in being with people who think and feel like we do. These are our “likeminded” people, our natural groupings in the larger design.
But even there, no two pieces are identical. Each one still has a slightly different shape or shade that allows the picture to be complete.
This is why it sometimes takes us time to find our place, and to find our people. First we must discover ourselves — our true edges, our authentic colors. And then, we might journey through many groups of pieces before we discover the ones we belong beside. That is part of the process. It doesn’t mean something is wrong with us. It simply means we are still searching for the part of the picture where we fit best.
So when you come across people who are not “your people,” don’t be disheartened. It only means they belong in a different part of the puzzle. And that’s not just okay — it’s necessary. Because if we all clustered together in one corner, the rest of the picture would remain unfinished.
The World’s Resistance
Of course, there are times when the world tries to deny space for certain pieces. Sometimes people who look different, sound different, or think differently are pushed aside, as though their piece has no place in the puzzle.
But that is a tragic mistake. Because without every piece, the picture is incomplete. Without the bold, the quiet, the jagged, the vibrant, the unusual — the artwork will never be what it was meant to be.
Your Uniqueness is Needed
This is why it is so important — vital, even — to discover your uniqueness and claim it. Do not dull your edges so you can be forced into the wrong spot. Do not cover your colors so you can look like everyone else. You are not here to blend in. You are here to shine.
Your uniqueness is not an accident. It is the key to the part of the puzzle only you can fill. Without your piece, the world is unfinished.
So be brave enough to show up exactly as you are. Be as unique as you can be. Because it is only when every piece is seen and utilized that the puzzle of this world becomes the masterpiece it was always meant to be.
✨ Your uniqueness is the missing piece this world is waiting for.
— Masha Gimelfarb
