Remembering Childhood Memories Through a Favorite Toy: A Cosmic Retrograde Challenge

Sometimes problems are hard to solve.

Sometimes problems become unsolvable.

I used to think the pyramid cube and Rubix cube were unsolvable. 

Linda of the Litebeing Chronicles asked me to be part of her cosmic retrograde challenge. The challenge was to pull out an old object from long ago and just let it be near you for a few weeks. At the end of that time, we could write about what came up for us–whatever that may be.

I chose my pyramid cube. I had this toy since… um … a long time.

This challenge made me think about many childhood things around toys, playing games, having fun and more.

This particular toy was fun for me. I love to solve puzzles of all kinds. It is not nearly as hard as the famous Rubix cube, but still a similar challenge.

The first thing I learned is that sometimes things have to be a little chaotic before order can happen.

This particular toy has a red, blue, green and a gold side. Four sides do not seem like a lot until you have it messed up. The first side is easy to solve. Two sides, not too bad, but once you start on the last two sides; you have to learn to mess up [ahem … the chaos] the first two sides in order to finish it.

It made me think of the Rubix cube. I had that too. (Mine came from sending in Chex cereal box tops.) I did however have a step-by-step book on solving the Rubix cube. Thank goodness, my mother found it. I could only solve three sides before I had the book. It took me many hours of many days that summer, but I solved that thing … just once. I was satisfied with that.

It was then I learned determination. I did not give up.

The pyramid cube also brought back memories of when I was going to the hospital for surgery. I twisted and turned the toy repeatedly, messing it up and solving it. I played it as they wheeled me back to the operating room. I remember my nervous parents standing there and me handing the toy to my dad while challenging him to solve it just before going in to surgery.

I remember learning then that having a positive attitude could help you through tough times.

I remember reading that having a positive attitude can help the outcome of surgery. I sailed through surgery. I remember hearing the doctors say that they were surprised that I did not have any of the bruising that normally occurred. When I heard this, I knew it was my positive attitude that helped me through it all. It was not their skill, nor anything else, I had no doubt it was the positive attitude that did it.

I had forgotten just how long I had this attitude. It also made me remember that I lost my positive thinking attitude for a long time once, but now I have it back. It is hard to keep that attitude through everything that happens in life, but it does seem to make life a whole lot easier.

All this introspection … just from old memories … all from an old toy. It was as simple as setting an old toy on the shelf in my office at work.

One of these days, I will have to mess it up and see how fast I can solve it.  (That will be a fun 5 minutes or less.)

Next up for the challenge on November 13 – Sindy

Thanks Linda for designing this challenge and helping conjure up these memories.