Last weekend I learned to solve a Rubik’s cube! No, I am not a genius, and, Yes, I did use the YouTube to learn how to solve it. Nevertheless, I’m quite proud of myself. Our kids had received mini cubes in their Easter baskets, and that afternoon I just decided I was going to learn. (Side note: Do not learn on a mini cube; they are frustrating as heck to learn on.)
I grew up in the 1980s, so, of course we had a Rubik’s cube in our game cupboard. I probably half tried it a few times, but I think I knew the task was out of my reach, so I never put much time or thought into it. When the Rubik’s cube gained in popularity once more and YouTube was a resource, I still didn’t really care enough to try learning. But, for some reason, magically, it was time. (Ok, ok. I’m procrastinating on a big project right now, but that’s besides the point.)
I went from being super amazed and proud at solving the cube at all to realizing I could do it in 5 or 6 minutes. What?! By the third day, my time was down to about 3 minutes. And now, a week later and after combining two methods, I’m consistently under 2 1/2 minutes. I’m certainly not a “speed cuber,” nor do I necessarily aspire to be (ok, maybe a little), but I’m feeling pretty rad about all of this.
But one of the coolest, unexpected side effects of learning The Cube is that I am looking at all the other seemingly difficult things I’ve wanted to learn or accomplish, and it all just seems so….possible. Learn ASL? Sure, I can do that. Working towards my first-ever splits? Yeah, I got that. Knitting socks? Of course. Writing a book? No problem. Threading a Serger? Why not. Getting through another day of meltdowns and tantrums? Easy peasy.
There are 43 quintillion (!!!) possibilities on a Rubik’s cube. Which is totally insane, right? So, if I can solve that in less than 2 1/2 minutes, just think of all that I could accomplish.