Rubik’s Cube part 2.

January 17, 2008, when I first solved the 3×3 Rubik’s cube with the help of my friend, Paula. I was on duty back then, while waiting for cases to come, I spent most of the time solving the cube instead of having an interesting chat with my group mates. It was summer 2007 where in I first attempted to solve the cube in accordance to my previous blog entry, I just solved the base layer. You could just imagine the interval of my decision to finally continue solving the cube. In my second attempt, it took me weeks to have finally solved it because I have troubles in identifying on which way I should turn the cube for I was left-handed. I also don’t have the luxury of time to a lot in solving it. Honestly, I even got a small piece of paper that I carry with me, written on it was several algorithms that I need to memorize. Guilty of cheating, but it worked. Upon solving the cube, I was overjoyed and even let my group mates see it individually, up close. For few moments my heart was full of bliss and achievement but then, a sudden thought came to me “That was it?” this is not to brag how easy it is to solve the cube but to let you see my realization.

I realized that when you want something, you have to spend time getting it no matter how long it would take. You have to endure the hardships to gain your desired goal. As the cliché goes, No pain, No gain. I certainly believe that. After being successful in attaining your goal, yes, it gives you pleasure and the feeling of fulfillment but the question is what would you do next? The feeling of fulfillment will surely pass and you’ll have to undergo another cycle of reaching another goal and finding a new reason to be happy and proud about.

For me, after learning how to solve the Rubik’s cube and the fulfillment it gave me after I solved it quickly passed through my hands like sand that quickly escaped from your finger no matter how strong your grasp is. What did I do about it? Simple. I find another way to make me satisfied and fulfilled. How? During that time, Rubik’s cube craze is dominating over the country and so everybody wants to learn about it and since I have group mates that wanted me to teach them, I did. I instantly became a Rubik’s cube instructor. Having taught at least 3 persons and letting my group mates borrow my algorithm cheat paper and my very own 3×3 Rubik’s cube, I was able to help them. The outcome? Longer fulfillment and satisfaction. Another thing that I realized was, helping other people and doing even the smallest favors for them cause greater results than having received help and favors from other people. It is a grateful feeling to be helped but it is way better if you are the reason why people are happy. It offers more pleasure and gives you the feeling of worthiness.

Here’s the picture of my dear old 3×3 Rubik’s cube when it returned to me:

But then, I can’t afford to look at it just like that and I can’t identify the colors anymore, I repaired it and here are the results:

~I pasted a colored paper on each cube. Photos are not as good quality as the previous photos because it was taken via my camera phone.

Posted by: Dianne Peña | 05-09-2008 | 03:05 PM
Posted in: Rhapsodies