The Purple Puzzler
What's your name?
Daniela, The Purple Puzzler
Where are you based?
The Netherlands
Tell us about what your ordinary day looks like.
I spend most of my day leading online projects with people in different time zones. It’s meaningful work, but quite intense, so I keep a puzzle nearby. A few pieces here and there help me unwind and come back with a clear mind.
How did you get into the world of puzzling?
My puzzling journey began when I was a kid. My father and I were at my grandparents’ place, and as he pulled a box from his old room, a puzzle hidden underneath slipped out. It showed an autumn scene, and we brought it home and completed it together with no image to guide us. That experience stayed with me.
What makes you keep puzzling & how often do you puzzle?
I do about five puzzles a week. I keep puzzling because it gives me a kind of quiet focus, no decisions, no pressure, just progress. It’s the opposite of my work life, where I’m always choosing the next step, yet the two complement each other perfectly.
What is your favorite type of puzzle?
I love puzzles that I feel connected to. If the image has a mood or story that pulls me in, that’s when puzzling feels the most special. 500 pieces is my magic number, but I go easily into 1000 if the image is especial for me.
During puzzling sessions, do you listen to anything or puzzle in silence?
I do a combination when puzzling in chill mode. Sometimes I enjoy the quiet, and other times I put on something soft in the background. It depends on my mood and the puzzle. Although, if I am practicing for speed puzzling, I have a specific list that keeps my rhythm.
If you were to describe what puzzling means to you, what would it be?
Puzzling is my way to connect with myself, my quiet “me time.” But it’s also the best excuse to come together, share the joy, and celebrate life as a community.
Tell us about your other interests & joys.
I also love gardening. Since I’m originally from Venezuela, my home is full of plants, almost like a tiny Amazonian jungle inside. It’s my happy place.
Do you have anything you want to share?
For me, puzzling is wonderful but puzzling together is greater. Social puzzling creates community, joy, and the perfect excuse to celebrate life with others. And if you don’t have a puzzle community nearby, go find one! and if it doesn’t exist yet, start it now :)
