Last year, Santa brought our son a Rubik’s Cube. I forgot how much I love that thing! The minute I started manipulating it, I was transported to my dad’s recliner in my childhood home, the place where I spent many hours playing with that cube. I immediately got sucked back in to trying to solve it. So, I persuaded our son to let me play with the cube on a recent flight to Texas. As I struggled with that frustrating yet awesome puzzle plaything, I thought about how similar the process of trying to solve it is to the process of living life.
As we were waiting in the airport, I started playing with the cube. I could see out of the corner of my eye that a gal was watching me. After what I can only assume were several painful minutes for her, she said, “Do you want some help with that thing?” I looked over and saw that she was many years my junior. Smiling, I said, “Why? Are you one of those people who can solve it like that [insert snapping of fingers]?” She let me know that, no, it actually took her a whole five minutes [insert eye roll]! The competitive side of me wouldn’t give her the cube, but I did accept some clues, something about crosses and corners. So, what are the lessons here?
•We are built for connection. Simple things can unite people. •Someone around you is watching, cares what you’re doing and wants to help.
•It’s not a bad idea to accept a little help, and sometimes that help comes in a form you may not expect: a stranger, someone younger or someone whom you assume is less experienced at life.
•You never know how much the help you’re offered will actually help, but it doesn’t hurt to consider another’s input.
Also while in the airport, another gal saw that I was playing with the cube and came over to show me a video of a guy solving three cubes simultaneously while juggling them. She laughingly said something to the effect of the video making me feel really inferior. Then, my husband showed me a video of the current world record holder solving the cube in less than five seconds. What are the lessons?
•In life, there will always be someone bigger, better, faster, smarter, etc. Don’t let that awareness stop you. Be humble and power on.
•There will be people on the outside who give their input, often unsolicited and sometimes very negative. You can see it as a deterrent, or you can use it to help you grow, motivate you to work at something and so on.
While trying to implement the advice the first airport gal gave me, I found that, just as soon as I’d get a cross on one side and moved on to create the next one, I ended up destroying the first. So, I’d reverse my steps and try from another angle. No soap. Reverse and try again. I kept running into the same problems. Long story short, I was eventually able to get two crosses but could not get a third. Lessons?
•If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Get back on the horse and ride. Don’t give up.
•Sometimes you may feel like you are chasing your tail, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. If something’s not working for you, come at it from another angle. This might involve soliciting someone else’s advice.
•If you fall off track, backtrack and see where you went wrong. Try to learn from it, prevent yourself from making the same mistake, and then tackle it again.
As I continued to work the cube, I came to a point where I found myself stuck. My husband said that he once read that the trick is lining up the sides of the cube to match the center of each side. So, I tried that for awhile, and I had some success. I found, though, that I would get some in line and then be afraid of moving any cubes for fear of mixing up what I’d already done. Eventually, I went for it. Long story short, I came very close to solving it but still haven’t quite made it. What’s to learn?
•As you’re plugging along in your life, maybe even doing fine, someone or something may come along that moves you in a different, even better direction. It may not seem like it at the time; but take heed, see if it can help.
•Sometimes, you just have to go for it. I was afraid to mess up what I’d accomplished on the cube. When I did it, though, I had even greater success.
•Commit but remain flexible. I maintained the same goal all along, but I was open to other information when it was presented to me.
I have yet to solve the cube, but I will keep trying. I’m stubborn like that. I like to call it “highly motivated.” Looks like I’ll need a lot of flights to Texas.
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