Almost every day, during our breaks, an older man who is my colleague closes himself off from the noise in the break room by focusing on a cryptogram puzzle in the newspaper instead.
One day I decided to help him solve the puzzle and he told me he has tinnitus. Imagine working in a busy school when you are so sensitive to noisy surroundings! I also still have a problem with busy, loud environments, so I decided to join him in solving those puzzles.
Every day we sit at the crowded table, fixing today's puzzle. We are still there, in the moment and talking to the people around us, but at times we tune out and puzzle for a bit.
Occasionally other colleagues start helping us with the puzzle as well.
I am very grateful that my colleague, who is really struggling with his hearing, has taught me how to zone yourself out when the world becomes overwhelming, yet to still be able to be in the present moment. We keep solving those puzzles every day and though I always think cryptograms are hard, together we enjoy a small victory when we solved another one together.
One day I decided to help him solve the puzzle and he told me he has tinnitus. Imagine working in a busy school when you are so sensitive to noisy surroundings! I also still have a problem with busy, loud environments, so I decided to join him in solving those puzzles.
Every day we sit at the crowded table, fixing today's puzzle. We are still there, in the moment and talking to the people around us, but at times we tune out and puzzle for a bit.
Occasionally other colleagues start helping us with the puzzle as well.I am very grateful that my colleague, who is really struggling with his hearing, has taught me how to zone yourself out when the world becomes overwhelming, yet to still be able to be in the present moment. We keep solving those puzzles every day and though I always think cryptograms are hard, together we enjoy a small victory when we solved another one together.
3751 Reads
- Posted by lieveliene
- Feb 23, 2015
- Comments (5)
Readers Comments
seaelleff wrote: It's probably weeks too late -- but i think aloe is the plant juice used as a balm that you were looking for, seamar. :)
SeaMar67 wrote: Beautiful story. What a kind friend you are! I also struggle with tinnitus and sensory overload and i have indeed found that doing puzzles "in public" (mostly i do crosswords) to be a good activity for calming and focusing. And i do love when it becomes a slightly more social activity because someone is curious and wants to play :) do you happen to know a four-letter word for "plant juice often used in healing balms"?
Geranium wrote: How lovely to solve puzzles together.
Rajni Gohil wrote: Albert einstein's quote "only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile" is in action here. Very kind deed inspiring others. Thanks for sharing
jomartin87112 wrote: This is such a lovely story on so many levels. Thank you
