I remember my first encounter with a Rubik's Cube. I was 8-years-old. I picked up the cube and said to myself, "Duh! I can figure this thing out!" After all how difficult could it be to match up colors, right? So what did I do? I matched up an entire face, expecting the other sides to fall in place as well....Umm...yeah, that didn't work. As the years passed, I would continue to pick up a Cube here and there, fiddle with it and put it back down. I don't think I ever managed to at least put together another face. It would be 15 years until I finally understood....
For those of you that know me, you understand that to describe me as stubborn would be an understatement. Offer to help and I'll strive harder to do it on my own. I may not succeed but I'll still go down claiming independence! Well friends, this puzzle was an exercise in seeking help and allowing to be helped, something you all know I struggle with. Well, I could not have solved this puzzle without it. Believe me I tried.
For the first few days I sought no advice. In truth, my brother, Shane, is the one who put me up to this. He brought home the Cube, also intent on solving it (which he did!). Well, I thought, if he could do it, I could too, dammit! He tried to give me hints on how to go about getting the pieces in place. He kept mentioning something about algorithms. "It's an algorithm. You have to figure out the algorithm." Algorithm, schmalgorithm, I got this. And meanwhile, I was getting NOWHERE!
At frustration's peak, I decided to take a step back and learn about the Cube. A Wikipedia entry later, I realized algorithms were in fact the way to go! All right, so how the hell does an algorithm relate? An algorithm is, briefly, a pattern/rules which when applied produces the desired results (a formula if you will). OHHHH I would never have figured out this thing without having that in my bag of tricks. I would have kept flipping and turning and twisting...
Next up: help from the bro. All right, Shane, I said...don't SHOW me what to do but explain to me some of your reasoning, I still would like to figure it out on my own. I did a little bit more learning on the Web, and I was off. It took about 3 weeks, about 1-2 hours a day to figure it out (awesome way to unwind before bed). Shoulda seen the smile on my face when I moved that last piece into place!
I thought about getting all philosophical on you by describing how the Cube, with its twists, turns and flips, relates to Life, but I'll save you my insane tendency to analyze... until another time. For now I'll say what I know to be true but have a hard time cementing in my head...ME asking for help is a good thing. Thanks again to everyone that has helped me when I finally asked for it and helped me even though I stubbornly refused it. In the meantime, enjoy the evidence:
