Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors, Many! Your Own Space "We had pale yellow tile in our bathroom rimmed with thin tiles of white. I'd dumped Tack's old, mismatched towels and added new, thick emerald green ones… My moisturizer and toner bottles were the deep hued color of moss. My toothbrush was bright pink, Tack's was electric blue. There was a little bowl by the tap where I tossed my jewelry when I was washing my hands or preparing for bed. It was ceramic painted in glossy sunshine yellow and grass green…. My undies were cherry red lace…. I lived in color, every day, and my life was vibrant. I rubbed in moisturizer hoping our baby got his or her Dad's sapphire blue eyes. But I'd settle if they were my green." --Kristen Ashley (author; Motorcycle Man) What do you think? Really, an extended description of the colors of personal items (towels, tooth brushes and even underwear) in a bathroom? Way more than we need to know?? Maybe. Well if you don’t like it, it might help you to know the description comes from fictional characters (Tyra Masters and her lover “Tack”) in a novel called Motorcycle Man. It’s not based on real people. But fictional or no, actually I like Kristen Ashley’s description a lot. I like it for the very reason She/her character is focusing on the personal, and I like it because she’s taking time to notice the colors and the objects in her very immediate environment. She has actively designed the room, changing small details till the space is filled with the variety and vibrancy of the colors that make her happy. Isn’t that what it’s all about? If you want color, you don’t need to go to museums and focus on old paintings. You don’t even need to look out your own window to check on what other people are wearing. It’s simpler than that because it starts with you and your immediate environment. How do you begin from the ground up to build a space that makes you feel good/expresses who you really are? And then how do you build in time to remember to notice all the good things with which you have filled that space? It’s so easy to live on autopilot. You walk into a room for a specific purpose; you complete your task; and you move quickly to the next thing that needs to be done. On the other hand, Kristin Ashley has created a character who takes time to enjoy the wide variety of colors (and objects) which she has placed in her bath room. She set the room up the way she wanted; when she uses the space, she actively looks around; you can imagine her smiling at the color combinations and subsequently leaving the room in a better frame of mind. Finally, Kristen Ashley’s character wants to pass on her own joy of color, and she cares about more than the colors in just one room of her house. She wants the eyes of her upcoming baby to mirror those of at least one of the baby’s parents, though probably of course she’d be just as content and proud with a baby whose eyes turned out to be just about any color at all. Let’s remember; there’s a lot of wonderful colors out there; let’s take time to get the ones we like most in our immediate environment and let’s take time to enjoy. Literally, it all starts at home, as we create our own space. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis?
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Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Sapphire-blue "Sword, I name thee Brisingr!And with a sound of rushing wind the blade burst into flame, an envelope of sapphire-blue fire writhing about the razor-sharp steel." --Christopher Paolini (author; Inheritance cycle), What do you think? What’s in a name? What happens when you know for certain that you’re doing what you’re absolutely called to do? Ok perhaps you’re not into fantasy books, epic fighting or the prospect of unleashing a new power sword into the world. But you’ve got to admit there’s energy in this quote; there’s a call to the senses invoked by sapphire-blue, a rushing wind and razor-sharp steel; and there’s power in an invocation and in a name. For good or bad, that sword-- now given the name Brisingr-- is being called forth to do important and great things! What about you? What’s in a name? What “name” (or specific words) would call you forth and inspire you to take on bigger challenges? What kind of ceremony or ritual might you need to get you started on a new but desired path? What colors, symbols or images would enhance your motivation? Perhaps there’s more power in rituals than we know. Think about it. Some colleges hold convocations to welcome the in-coming freshmen as they embark on the new journey. Some new home-owners engage in a cleansing ceremony, complete with incense and perhaps a calling forth of the spirits, to clear the dwelling of that which is old and unwanted and to ensure it’s ready for what’s good and new; and of course any number of religious rituals are at hand to welcome and inspire a new congregant. So there’s the initial invocation to get you started, and subsequently there’s the equally important need to incorporate the energy of the start into your everyday life. A place for more ritual or ceremony to keep things going? What additional symbols, colors or objects could remind you that what you want is important? What do you need to keep you on track? A weekly mini-ceremony? A symbol carried in your pocket? Time in nature? More colors around the house? Sure it’s about setting the goals and planning things out. Sure it’s about moving forward step-by-step in a logical way. We often forget though that it’s also about the power of those rituals and symbols that call us to be our best selves. And there’s one more thing. regardless of what you think about fighting and swords, remember the one we call Brisingr pulses and glows full of sapphire-blue fire. It’s got energy; it’s got passion; and it’s got both the beauty of the gem sapphire along with the best of the qualities we all associate with the color blue. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? |
AuthorI am a Life Coach, a Color Wisdom Card Practitioner, and yes, even a Professor (political science, State University of New York at Albany). I use the Color Wisdom Cards to support clients in exploring priorities and taking concrete actions to stay on track with the goals they set. Because in my own life I have overcome a lot of self-doubt, I want to work with people towards more confidence and self-empowerment. You can do it! What is it you want to do? Categories
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