Okay, so I was messing around with crossword puzzles the other day, and I got totally stuck on one clue: “coming after.” It seemed so simple, but my brain just froze. I stared at it for like, five minutes, and nothing came to me.
First, I tried to think of synonyms. I went through “following,” “next,” “subsequent” – the usual suspects. I even jotted them down on a scrap of paper, hoping that seeing them written out would spark something. No dice.
Then I started looking at the letters I already had filled in. Maybe the context would help? I had “_ _ S U _ _ _ G”. Still nothing. It was like my brain had just decided to take a vacation.
I decided to take a break. Sometimes, you just need to step away for a bit, right? I got up, made myself a cup of coffee, and wandered around the house for a few minutes. I figured, letting my mind wander might shake something loose.
Trying a Different Approach
When I came back, I thought, “Okay, maybe I’m thinking too literally.” Crossword clues can be tricky, they love to use wordplay. So I started thinking about phrases, idioms, anything that might fit the “coming after” idea.
I was starting to get frustrated. I nearly gave up and move on to other clues. Then, out of the blue, it hit me! “Pursuing!” It fit perfectly, both in terms of meaning and the letters I had.
- P
- U
- R
- S
- U
- I
- N
- G
I slotted it in, and bam, it worked! Suddenly, a bunch of other clues around it became clear. It was like a dam had burst. I was so relieved, and a little bit proud of myself for sticking with it, I must admit. It’s amazing how sometimes the simplest things can trip you up, and how taking a break, or just changing your perspective, can make all the difference.
