TRUE COLORS
Colors surround us.
They can make us laugh, cry or smile. They add beauty, depth and meaning
to our lives. In my yard, I have planted a hibiscus that a friend gave me when
my father passed away. Every year, its beautiful pale pink, fragile-looking blossoms
remind me of that day, but even more, of how much I loved my father and the great example he was to me.
Beautiful crocuses peek from among unraked leaves and herald
the beginning of spring, of the times of tilling and planting, of taking handfuls of soil and smelling the richness of mother
earth.
My favorite time of the year, hands down, is fall. I love the colors, the oranges, the fiery reds, the browns and rusts.
During a walk on a fall day, I enjoy the swirling of leaves, the cool, crisp air.
It speaks to me of apple cider and the giving of thanks for the bounty in my life.
Some believe that individuals, as well as every organism
and object in the universe, has an aura. These auras, they say, are colored,
and that the colors define a person. For example, a deep red aura means the person
is grounded, realistic, active, has strong will power, and is survival oriented. Take
a few steps away from the deep red to the muddied red, and you find anger. Soft
blue denotes peacefulness, clarity, and communication.
Whether you believe in the existence of auras or not, the
fact remains that humans attach meanings to the different colors in their lives. The
bright yellow of the daffodil speaks of warmth and rising expectations for the coming season.
The oranges, rusts, and browns in the fall can denote sadness in the life cycle coming to an end. For some, depression comes during this season.
Dark clouds during a thunderstorm can be menacing to some,
while others celebrate the coming of rain, of the watering that is so important for life to come.
We attach meaning to the color silver – denoting advancing
age, yet vibrant with life. Or it can be the 25th anniversary of a
married couple. It can also be that white gold, silver in color, is knotted into
a wedding ring, speaking of hope and commitment for the years to come. White,
of course, is the color worn by a bride at her wedding.
Red roses and the red and pink hearts found around Valentine’s
Day speak of love; yellow mums speak of high school homecomings and the passing of summer into fall. A red car can mean speed and strength to its owner. Green
plants warm us and connect us to the earth and the growth cycles. The clear blue
sky can mean smooth sailing, or cool waters. For some, avocado and gold remind
us of the awful color schemes of the 60s and 70s.
What are the colors that surround you? Which make you laugh, cry, or smile? Whatever they are, colors
in their myriads of shades and hues add beauty, depth, and meaning to our lives.
