Ctrl-Alt-Delete is the trifecta of keyboard commands. If I had one for life, literally, with the press of a single button, I could:
Physically –recharge my batteries
Mentally – clear the fog and remember, be more focused, creative, clear-headed, strategic, and articulate
Emotionally – be more positive, optimistic, compassionate, empathetic, present and connected
Spiritually – be powered by purpose
Ctrl-Alt-Delete: If you’ve ever worked on a windows operating system, you know the command. It’s the one that gets us out of tight spots. It was invented by an IBM engineer who wanted to create a command for a system reboot, but one that would be difficult to do by mistake. Hitting the Ctrl-Alt-Delete keys simultaneously doesn’t come naturally so that’s where he landed. He said it was a five-minute engineering solution, but it’s since become iconic. It was even featured on a Jeopardy show and the correct response was, “Who is David Bradley?”
Let’s consider each key’s function and how it applies to life; according to Merion-Webster:
Ctrl – Control: a key on a computer keyboard that when pressed in combination with other keys enables special commands or symbols to be accessed. Wikipedia refers to it as a modifier key as it modifies the function of other keys when it’s pressed simultaneously. Cool…sounds like it’d enable superpowers. I want one of those too!
Alt – Alternate: a key on a computer keyboard that when pressed in combination with other keys enables special commands or symbols to be accessed. In other words, when pressed simultaneously with other keys, it modifies their function. Makes me think of synergies… or a decoder ring or a way to navigate the matrix.
Delete – we all know what that key does, and it has power all by itself. When pressed in combination with Ctrl-Alt, it too has superpowers. That combination is used to unfreeze, reboot, reboot or escape mistakes… kind of like an undo button. If I had one in real life, like time travel, I’d have to use with caution.
Metaphorically speaking, we all have a Ctrl-Alt-Delete button. I have several of them in fact. However, just like hitting “Ctrl” or “Alt” by themselves, they don’t accomplish anything – they must be hit in combination with other keys to have power. Similarly, experiencing wonderous events and activities alone isn’t usually as rewarding as when I share them with my Friends and Family, aka my F2… or squared… or to the power of “2” because they’re more powerful together than alone. In fact, they give me superpowers! They modify the experience by improving it!
An ironic side note: the “F2” key is used to rename a highlighted file or icon (and I’ve just used F2 as a substitute name for Family and Friends – ha! That worked out nicely)! Ok, Jeannie, quit chasing the shiny object and get to the point.
The point: Sharing my hobbies and interests with my F2 is a multiplier of happiness for me. Just like the Ctrl-Alt functions, enjoying a hobby with my F2 simultaneously modifies my happiness exponentially (to the power of 2 at least). Unless I’m particularly in a mood to be alone, which I often am, I get more enjoyment doing my hobbies with other people, some even require it …like tennis.
Activities that are enhanced by sharing them include fishing, travel, boating, playing games, a shared Netflix binge, sharing a good meal, listening to music, and dancing. Others though, I need to pursue alone, like reading and writing. When it comes to walking, I enjoy it equally alone, and with others. How about you?
Luckily, I’m one of those people who can be alone and not be lonely; I mean, I’m talking in my head all the time whether anyone is there to engage or not. Then, I often sit down and write unwieldy articles like this one. Some of my best thinking and problem solving is done when I’m alone because I can literally hear myself think.
My final point? Figure out what your Ctrl-Alt-Delete button is and be intentional about pressing it. The next time your brain is foggy or you’re feeling a bit down, apathetic, unbalanced or like you’re spinning your wheels, be intentional about overcoming the inertia that’s holding the status quo.
Get out of that rut and into a groove by pressing your Ctrl-Alt-Delete button. Don’t try to power through whatever it is that’s posing a barrier, that’s when you’ll make mistakes… all kinds of mistakes, some that you’ll wish you can undo, some that will require you to redo, and some that will require you to make do.
Discover your internal Ctrl-Alt-Delete button and press it more often to recharge and reboot! Your best thinking likely occurs when you’re feeling refreshed so be intentional about rebooting so you can charge ahead firing on all cylinders!
