Puzzle with Mecki
What's your name?
Mecki
Where are you based?
Manila, Philippines
Tell us about what your ordinary day looks like.
As a full-time mom, my days revolve around the home and my kids. I sneak in some puzzling time in between tasks, but generally, I puzzle at night and almost always go way past my bedtime trying to place "just one more piece."
How did you get into the world of puzzling?
I caught the puzzling bug early because as an only child, I enjoyed this quiet, solo activity so much. As a teenager, I used to do one puzzle every summer break and have them framed when done. I still have three of those in my house now! I stopped for quite some time then picked it up again right before the pandemic. When the pandemic hit, I had just finished and framed all three puzzles that I had bought! I only revisited this passion around 2024 and haven't looked back since.
What makes you keep puzzling & how often do you puzzle?
Puzzling has become an integral part of my forties. I look forward to my puzzling time, seeing it as a form of self-care, as it clears my headspace and quiets my mind like no other activity can. I try to puzzle daily and join as many puzzle alongs as I can.
What also keeps me puzzling is the sheer number of beautiful puzzles out there! I have this very lofty goal of trying every puzzle brand at least once. Quite a stretch for a country that has limited access to puzzles, but hey, "Dream big," right?
What is your favorite type of puzzle?
I'm drawn to just about anything! Beautifully illustrated art by real artists, anything that has flowers, lush sceneries, buildings and windows, and abstract art.
I mostly do 500s and 1000s, though I sometimes like to mix it up with wooden puzzles when I have the luxury of trying one.
Puzzles that remind me of a particular memory or a person are particularly close to my heart and give me a whole other level of satisfaction and happiness.
During puzzling sessions, do you listen to anything or puzzle in silence?
Depends on my mood. I can puzzle in silence and some days I'll listen to a podcast or have a show on.
If you were to describe what puzzling means to you, what would it be?
Solace. There's comfort in the quiet and in being able to sift through the "mess" and piece it back together at your own pace.
Tell us about your other interests & joys.
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends over good food, watching true crime documentaries, tending to my plants, and going on road trips.
Do you have anything you want to share?
Prior to puzzlegram, I happily puzzled on my own with the end goal of framing them. My world opened up a thousand-fold when I joined this amazing community of puzzlers, not only from Manila, but also from all over the globe and I could not be more grateful and thankful for the kindest, most supportive and generous people I've never met! Time spent on puzzlegram is my daily dose of happy, and being a small piece of this big puzzle community warms my heart tremendously.
