So, I’m feeling a little down, so I decided to tackle today’s NYT Mini Crossword, it’s titled “in need of some cheering up.” I love puzzles, so why not give it a try? I’m hoping it will lift my spirits. I decided to start with the clue which is about “In need of some cheering up.”
I grab my phone and open up the NYT Games app. And the Mini Crossword pops up, just as it was described in the title, the answer should be about what I need now. I start filling in the across clues first. I quickly get the first few, but then I get stuck on the fourth one.
I switch to the down clues and manage to solve a couple more. With those letters in place, I take another look at the across clue that stumped me earlier. Then it hits me! I try to type in the word, and it fits perfectly. I get that little rush of satisfaction from solving it.
I keep going, alternating between across and down clues. Some of them are pretty easy, while others make me think a bit harder. I have to really wrack my brain to get the word!
- I love the feeling when a word suddenly pops into my head.
- It’s like a little “aha!” moment.
After a few minutes, I’ve filled in all the squares. I double-check to make sure I haven’t made any mistakes. Everything looks good. And there it is, the final answer to the “In need of some cheering up” clue.
GLOOM
The answer is “GLOOM.” It’s a five-letter word. Seeing the word “GLOOM” in the puzzle grid gives me this weird sense of accomplishment. I solved it! It’s not the most cheerful word, but it feels great to figure it out. Maybe it’s not about the word itself, but the act of solving the puzzle that cheered me up.
I close the app and take a deep breath. I definitely feel a bit better than before. It’s amazing how something as simple as a crossword puzzle can make a difference. It took me a while to figure it out, but it was worth it. If you’re feeling down, maybe give it a try. You might be surprised at how much it can help.
