Can you imagine a world without color? Think about the vibrancy of nature and try to imagine it in a grey scale. Hard to do, isn't it? This time of year, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, Mother Nature is dressed in her finest and brightest colors. There's no denying that color has the power to affect our moods, draw attention to something, or even cause alarm. Do you prefer to wear clothing in vibrant hues or do you lean more toward the more professional or somber shades of black, brown, and navy blue....traditionally colors associated with power suit dressing? On this particular Monday, you might ask, why am I focusing on color in our lives? It's because 22 October is National Color Day.
Not everyone reacts to color in the same way. You may love blue while your friend gravitates toward red. "On one hand, we have the general social or cultural level, and on the other hand, our reaction is individual, influenced by how this color is presented in our personal lives. Red is a great example. When humans think of red, many immediately think about alarm or warning; a red fire truck, a red traffic light, a red stop sign. So while this is true for most humans for others, red can be a sign of comfort and joy, evoking memories of their grandmother's bright red kitchen or their mother's special red holiday dress that she wore every Christmas Day while they were growing up.
Here's a list of the generally-accepted meanings of most colors.
White - innocence, cleanliness, a sense of space
Green - health, tranquility, harmony, envy, nature (and frogs?)
Blue - calmness, wisdom, loyalty
Black - authority, power, mourning
Red - love, energy, life, excitement, warning
Yellow - happiness, warmth, optimism, competence
Pink - romance, gentleness, calming. sophistication
Brown - ruggedness, woodsy
Violet - royalty, power, authority
Color plays a huge role in everyone's lives. We adorn ourselves in color, we decorate our home in shades that we enjoy. When cooler temps of fall hit the leaves, they turn vibrant colors. The flush on a human's cheek sends signals that they're feeling embarrassed. Traffic signals turn from yellow to red to green. All of these things send a signal that change is happening. Even doctors will check our health by looking at the color of our skin.
Even before colors had names, I suspect they served a purpose. Even the non-artists among us become excited by looking at the variety of colors in a box of crayons or in a box of watercolors Colors excite our senses. They present possibility.
Take a few moments today and examine all the powerful ways in which color has an impact on your life. Express yourself through color! If you normally wear dark colors to work, try wearing something lighter and brighter. Try a new color in your home. Brighten up another's day by giving them a bouquet of flowers in vibrant hues. Perhaps you can simply take a walk in nature and enjoy Nature's splendor.
If you'd like to get in on the conversation about color, use #NationalColorDay on your social media. I wish you a bright, joyous, and colorful day!
PEACE
Not everyone reacts to color in the same way. You may love blue while your friend gravitates toward red. "On one hand, we have the general social or cultural level, and on the other hand, our reaction is individual, influenced by how this color is presented in our personal lives. Red is a great example. When humans think of red, many immediately think about alarm or warning; a red fire truck, a red traffic light, a red stop sign. So while this is true for most humans for others, red can be a sign of comfort and joy, evoking memories of their grandmother's bright red kitchen or their mother's special red holiday dress that she wore every Christmas Day while they were growing up.
Here's a list of the generally-accepted meanings of most colors.
White - innocence, cleanliness, a sense of space
Green - health, tranquility, harmony, envy, nature (and frogs?)
Blue - calmness, wisdom, loyalty
Black - authority, power, mourning
Red - love, energy, life, excitement, warning
Yellow - happiness, warmth, optimism, competence
Pink - romance, gentleness, calming. sophistication
Brown - ruggedness, woodsy
Violet - royalty, power, authority
Color plays a huge role in everyone's lives. We adorn ourselves in color, we decorate our home in shades that we enjoy. When cooler temps of fall hit the leaves, they turn vibrant colors. The flush on a human's cheek sends signals that they're feeling embarrassed. Traffic signals turn from yellow to red to green. All of these things send a signal that change is happening. Even doctors will check our health by looking at the color of our skin.
Even before colors had names, I suspect they served a purpose. Even the non-artists among us become excited by looking at the variety of colors in a box of crayons or in a box of watercolors Colors excite our senses. They present possibility.
Take a few moments today and examine all the powerful ways in which color has an impact on your life. Express yourself through color! If you normally wear dark colors to work, try wearing something lighter and brighter. Try a new color in your home. Brighten up another's day by giving them a bouquet of flowers in vibrant hues. Perhaps you can simply take a walk in nature and enjoy Nature's splendor.
If you'd like to get in on the conversation about color, use #NationalColorDay on your social media. I wish you a bright, joyous, and colorful day!
PEACE
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