Color me pink!  I'm happy. 
by Lorena Bowser

 In fact, I'm tickled pink to be writing this. I have discovered so much on the subject of color that I can’t wait to dive into it, as into a huge pool of watercolors all mixing and blending into infinite shades of Fantasia!   Now. what does the color pink have to do with my happiness?  Surprisingly enough, psychologists have determined that pink, as it relates to human emotions, is the happiest color.  That would be why they are painting the jailhouse walls pink in many prisons: known as “drunk tank pink,” the color is used to calm violent prisoners in jails.

Most of us when we hear the word "color" will not think of pink first.  Maybe red sunsets or blue skies - or all the colors of the rainbow.  Everyone relates to “color” in his own way. A first grade teacher discovered this when she asked her students one day if anyone knew what the three primary colors were. One little boy raised his hand and said:  "I do - they are white, black and Mexican!" 

 Well, whatever our take on color, for something that doesn’t exist in the physical world, the part it plays in our lives is nevertheless awe-inspiring!  I imagine a world without color would be a world devoid of art!  It certainly exists “as we see it.”  So what does it mean?  If we saw everything as black, white or brown, people would be a whole lot different, for the color we associate most with is actually a reflection of our individual personalities. A momentary color preference can usually indicate our mood.  Who wants to be in a black mood?

 We’ll focus this week on mood.  What color are you “in” right now?   It could be reflected in the blue sweater that you’re wearing, or the desktop image you just put up, or any other color choice you’ve made today.  Let's find out.  Click on the image and look at the colors for a several seconds.  Check out the dark and bright tones. Pick the one that most draws your attention. Got it? 

 Did you choose pink? You’re probably in the minority because society has given pink a bad rap.  This color is romantic, tender, and tranquilizing.  We have just associated it with happiness. If you chose pink (and you’re still awake), lucky you!  Politics and natural disasters are the farthest thing from your mind, so just hang loose and enjoy the euphoria.

 If your color of the moment is purple then I’ll bet you’re in a creative mood. The mood is somewhat whimsical, so your friends may not understand it. Be diplomatic with them, but do profit from the moment by applying your creativity to something positive – like a great work of art!

 Anyone in a red mood?  Red is the color of stimulation - of sex, youth and vigor. It may be a warning sign if you are in this mood a lot.  But if it’s momentary, take advantage of this vigorous mood to go out and get into the thick of things. You’ve got the winning edge for anything competitive. I said “competitive, ”not argumentative.”  Go get ’em!

 Are you blue? No, this does not mean that you are sad. It means that you are very sensitive at the moment and need some time alone to be with your thoughts. Find some quiet place where you can relax and meditate. Or put on your jammies, kick back by the fire and read a good book.

 Yellow is the color of action. I always have more energy in the springtime. Good weather aside, Southern California picks this time to load the hills with an over-abundance of yellow wild flowers.  It’s one of the most exhilarating sights I know. If you’re “in yellow”, you are in the mood to get those muscles moving,  play tennis, go dancing, run a mile down the beach - so do it!

Orange  is associated with warmth, contentment, and wholesomeness. If you picked orange, it’s a good time to invite your best friends over for dinner and some home-style karaoke.  And warm up the table with orange flowers – it’s the color that stimulates appetite. 

 A rich Brown  is the color of earth and wood. It is solid and reliable. It communicates credibility,  strength and maturity.  Just be yourself. Everyone will be looking for your company.  You are the voice of wisdom among your friends right now.

If you are feeling a bit low on self esteem or have been under attack from others you probably chose green. This color reflects your desire to focus on yourself. It’s a healing color – just what you need right now. Seize the mood and challenge yourself to whatever cultivates your potential. Your individual gift to life will shine and everything else will fall into perspective.

 A Maroon mood is indicative of your desire to associate with what you esteem - a person, a cause, an approach to life.  When you are in a maroon mood you are like an explorer, pilgrim, searching for a mate, or wanting to make friends. It’s not a time to hole up.  Go be social.

 Did you choose black?  You are either completely in tune with your place in this universe, or you’re working through something that is of great concern to you.  If the latter is the case, try to be with people that you feel you can rely on. You need some good company. Focus on a solution by talking things over with a trusted friend, or doing some meditation.

 Enjoy your mood and take full advantage of it.  It’s there for a reason. If you don’t like the mood you’re in, a change of mood is entirely feasible, and can be to our benefit if we just change the colors that surround us.

 Since I’m in a pink and yellow mood right now (I’m flying on fields of mustard flowers!), things are looking pretty cool.  Reflecting on the little boy’s primaries - black, white and Mexican - is not likely to topple me from the heights, so I’m taking a longer look at them…..black is the color that religious wear to show that they do not belong to the world, but to Heaven; brown is the color of maturity and trust; and white, the color of purity.  As we turn the lights down in the dark, these are the last (lasting) “colors” we perceive.  That’s something to think about when we turn out the lights and there’s nowhere to look but inside.

 Next week: what color are you?

Lorena Bowser is a lifetime artist and linguist. She has lived all over the world and really knows how to make the pennies scream. Enjoy more of Lorena's resourcefulness at her website and blog: at http://lorenasartandprose.blogspot.com

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