So, today I tried to work out the “Take Your Pick” crossword from the New York Times. I’ve heard that these puzzles get harder as the week goes on, starting easy on Monday and getting super tough by Saturday. I figured, why not give it a shot?
I started by reading through all the clues. Some of them seemed pretty straightforward, while others were totally cryptic. But I wasn’t going to give up that easily! I started with the clues that I was pretty sure about and filled in those answers. It was kind of exciting to see the grid slowly start to fill up.
There were definitely some tricky parts. I remember staring at one clue for ages, and no matter how many times I read it, I just couldn’t figure it out. I even tried thinking about it from different angles, but nothing! I guess that’s where the real challenge comes in. But I found out that these puzzles are supposed to make you sharper. They’re good for vocabulary, memory, and problem-solving. It’s like a workout for your brain!
As I got more answers filled in, I started to see connections between them. It’s like, once you have a few letters in place, it helps you figure out the other words that intersect with them. That was a really cool feeling, like I was starting to crack the code.
I know some people say it’s okay to look things up in a dictionary or even Google, especially if you’re almost done. I mean, if you’re just verifying what you’ve already filled in, I guess that is fine. I tried not to do that too much, though. I wanted to see how far I could get on my own.
It took me a while, and I definitely got stuck a few times. But in the end, I managed to finish the whole thing! It was such a satisfying feeling to finally fill in that last square. I felt pretty smart, I gotta say. But also, I think it helped relieve some stress. It was a fun way to challenge myself.
- Start with the easy clues: Getting a few answers filled in early on gives you a good foundation.
- Look for connections: Once you have some letters in place, use them to figure out other words.
- Don’t be afraid to take breaks: Sometimes you just need to step away for a bit and come back with fresh eyes.
- It’s okay to ask for help: If you’re really stuck, there’s no shame in looking something up.
- Practice makes perfect: The more you do these puzzles, the better you’ll get at them.
What I learned:
I’m definitely going to try more of these crosswords. It’s a fun and challenging way to keep my brain active. Maybe I’ll even try to work my way up to those tough Saturday puzzles eventually!
