Core Argument - The speech explores the speaker's personal relationship with Sudoku, from childhood to adulthood, and how it served as a coping mechanism for intrusive thoughts and emotional distress [1][10][14][16] - It connects the methodical process of solving Sudoku puzzles to research on the benefits of visually demanding puzzle games like Tetris in reducing intrusive memories and PTSD symptoms [11][12][13] - The speaker advocates for the value of slowing down and engaging in activities that require focused attention as a way to find peace and manage overwhelming thoughts, even in a fast-paced world [19][22] Psychological and Cognitive Aspects - Research suggests visually demanding puzzle games occupy mental resources, limiting the brain's capacity to process and store traumatic visual memories [11][12] - Repetitive tasks like Sudoku can create a meditative state, providing a rhythmic and predictable focus for an overwhelmed nervous system [17] - Sudoku is described as "thinking without thinking," freeing the mind and providing a manageable task to focus on during times of emotional distress [15][16] Personal Anecdotes and Experiences - The speaker shares personal stories about learning Sudoku from her father and using it as a distraction in middle school [1][17] - The speaker recounts a traumatic experience of losing classmates and how a teacher's offering of a Sudoku puzzle provided a coping mechanism [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] - The speaker reflects on how the methodical counting in Sudoku helped her manage intrusive images and emotions [14][16] Social Commentary - The speech critiques the modern emphasis on optimization and efficiency, particularly as exemplified by platforms like LinkedIn [18] - It suggests that sometimes the "wrong way" or the "slow way" of doing something can be more valuable for mental well-being [19] - The speaker encourages the audience to find their own version of "counting to nine," whether it's knitting, washing dishes, or other focused activities [20]

variant sedoku turns it up to 11. So you might have extra graphics in the grid. There might be a thermometer wending its way through the grid and you'll have to increase uh the digits along the thermometer from the bulb end.We've got puzzles now where there's a rat in the grid that has to get to a cupcake going along certain pathways. And these puzzles have all been handmade. So they're very very different to most people's experience of Sudoku which will be on the back of newspapers.>> All of those puzzles ...