Buttons

Button: A small knob for operating a doorbell, electric lamp, alcoholic, etc.

Sometimes I think I'm all buttons or at least one giant button. It can't be very hard pushing my buttons -- they festoon the entire surface of my body. They're brightly colored and they operate with a satisfying tactile click. Many of them are made more attractive by the means of gentle backlighting and soft music. They flash on and off. They're brightly colored. A lot of them have cash back rewards and redeemable coupons. When pushed one hears an amusing sound effect or a short joke from a popular comedian.

Yet, when I look at myself in the mirror I don't detect any buttons at all. Not a single one. Yet, they have to be there. Thousands of people locate them without the slightest effort. In fact, they are drawn to them like bees to honey or moths to a flame. My buttons are so compelling that these moths are willing to perish in the fire simply to enjoy the sensation of one final, button push.

The recovery trick is to learn how to disconnect the electronics from the back of the buttons. We can learn how to behave differently. People will begin to leave our buttons alone when we quit reacting in ways that they enjoy.