Colin Adams opens our solving weekend.
Jump to: Tricky Clues
FRIDAY PUZZLE — We tend to be very hard on ourselves, and I really wish we weren’t. Some people may see self-criticism as a display of high standards, or something that might stem from an experience in their pasts that I am highly unqualified to discuss.
In the first instance, we may believe that being hard on ourselves spurs us to achieve our goals, but, most of the time, it really just holds us back. It makes us afraid to try new things, because we feel as if we’ll be bad at it, and therefore, what’s the use of even trying?
Maybe that’s why there are so many people who — hang on tight, here comes a big segue — are afraid to try crossword puzzles. They’ve read about how hard they are, internalized that and given up before they even got started. And that’s such a shame.
You’ve probably heard the idiom “Everyone has to start somewhere.” You may be picking up your first crossword ever (a Monday, please, as those are the most straightforward and the easiest to get into) or deciding whether you want to leave your midweek solving comfort zone by trying a Friday grid.
What’s stopping you? The fear of making a mistake? That’s what the backspace key and the eraser are for. Here’s another idiom: “If you don’t make mistakes, you don’t make anything.” Free yourself from that fear.
The best way to achieve your solving goals is to just get started. And then continue. You’ll get better as you go along, I promise. And if you need some help, there is Wordplay, as well as our warm and welcoming commenters.
We are having trouble retrieving the article content.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Source: Elections - nytimes.com
