I realized the other day that I have a love hate relationship with buttons.
Buttons that are used for anything but what they are actually designed for I love! I love all the colors, shapes, designs and sizes they come in. I think it feels good to run my hands through a bunch of buttons. They are versatile and helpful in my crafts functioning as eyes and necklaces for my yarn dolls.
Clothes of any type with buttons I do not like. I do not like button up shirts or jackets, pants, costumes, or shoes. (The exception that makes this a rule are my 501s.) For some reason I’m never as comfortable in button up clothing. Buttons are never as easy or quick as zippers or hook and loop, so are troublesome on costumes. They become loose, fall off, get lost and must be sewn on numerous times. Buttons have been the demise of many criminals when one, from their or their victim’s apparel, falls off and is found by the detectives. You can zip yourself up, if creative and a bit flexible, but it is almost impossible, for most of us, to button up when they run all down our back. Buttons may win in the form category, but they lose in function.
The clothes manufacturers put the buttons for “men’s” clothes on a different side than the “women’s” clothes. Why? (Maybe to make it easier for men to undo a women’s button because it is on their own side when facing her? Just joking.) According to my friend, Google, the real reason has to do with men going to war and rich women having dressers in the olden days. Either way, is it still necessary? Maybe we should move all buttons to the same side and let all clothes and styles be for everyone with no delineation of male versus female versus them.
When I think about different sayings the thought of “buttoning things up” grates on my nerves but I have no problem with “tying up the loose ends” or “wrapping it up”. Why? I ponder why these terms, which essentially mean the same thing, affect me so differently on an emotional level. I think for me “tying up loose ends” or “wrapping it up” feels like completion. Neat and orderly. Everything is clean and ready to go for the next time. But “buttoning things up” feels restrictive. Controlling. More like shutting something down.
Then there are the buttons that we push. Elevators, street crossing, devices, doorbells and many other items with buttons that need pushing. Often, I push the button many times when I am waiting to cross the street or for an elevator to arrive. Pushing it once will do the job, but I am never truly satisfied unless I push the button a whole bunch of times. Like rapidly and repeatedly pushing the button is going to make the action occur quicker. Why do I do this?
Sometimes I hold the button down for a long time thinking if I extend the pressure then whatever action I want to occur will magically happen faster. Yet the truth is that everything performs in its own time. My pushing the button a multitude of times or holding it down without relief accomplishes nothing. I am not sure why that behavior is so persistent in me no matter how old I get or how much logic I apply.
Conversely, are there times when I should repeatedly push the button or keep the pressure on, but I do nothing? And what about when I need to stop pushing altogether? Am I properly managing my buttons? Are my button pushing priorities messed up? Do I lack the ability to recognize when I need to push the buttons and when I should just wait patiently and let the action happen?
Another way I don’t like buttons are my personnel ones. I feel like I have buttons all over me. Physical buttons, emotional buttons and spiritual buttons. Everyone and everything from people to animals to the propaganda promoted everywhere pushes my buttons and keeps pushing them until I take whatever action they are hoping I will take or shut down in rebellion.
But if they’re my buttons, shouldn’t I be able to control who is allowed a “ride in my elevator”? Why can’t I make myself a security elevator where you need the right key to be able to come in? This way I know that anyone who rides will treat my buttons properly and with respect. And more importantly, how do I stop pushing other people’s buttons? Don’t we push other people’s buttons to get what we want for ourselves or make them act in a certain way? How can I be aware of when I am doing that and stop?
Even the phrases using buttons illustrate the diverse impact buttons have on our society. I will leave you with a few examples. Bright as a button. Bust your buttons. Button your lip. Buttoned up. Buttonhole someone. Hit the panic button. On the button. One I like even though it’s meaning has changed over the years, cute as a button. And of course, what is needed at the end any article worth reading is a good, strong button!