Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Green
We all can use a little inspiration. It’s easy to concentrate on the tasks that need to be done immediately and the exigencies of our daily routines. The inspirational color quotes found in this section of the website ask you, in any way that feels right for you, to step out of the box, take a few minutes of reflection and refocus on the bigger picture. Thereafter, you might choose to take some particular action to move you in a new direction, you might want to take advantage of a quiet moment or you might choose to simply enjoy. In that spirit, here’s the inspirational color quote for this week. Monsters as Friends? “You have to fight the green monster with your mind, not your fists.” --Mathew Broderick (actor) What do you think he he’s talking about, and what do you think of what he’s saying? There are a lot of unknowns here, right? What’s the green monster? The famous part of the wall at Fenway Park in Boston over which it’s so difficult to hit a ball?? Some kind of dragon or mythical creature? Perhaps the green “monster” isn’t even a physical being at all; perhaps it’s any attitude, feeling or perspective that you think stands in the way of you achieving things you really want. It’s fun to speculate about what he’s really talking about, and in this case it’s also fun not to actually know. Let’s imagine what the monster is and what he (or she) might look like. How large? How strong? How many scales or horns? What do we need to know about it that will help us fight it? I also like this quote because it makes me think of applying the metaphor of monster to the world of my own emotions. It’s a little strongly stated, but what “monsters” are actually lurking in our minds? We don’t have enough confidence? We can’t get clear about what we want? We’re afraid to tell someone how we really feel? Monsters are a great metaphor because these emotions sure can feel like insurmountable blocks that keep us stopped. We feel frustrated, and as Matthew Broderick focuses our attention, our natural instinct is to want to fight (Fighting with the mind is ok; fists would be preferable.). But before things get out of hand, stop for a minute. Remember this particular monster is the color green, and this is one case where color really matters. As we know, green is associated with lots of positive characteristics: likability, sociability and above all, growth in many dimensions. So what if we changed our perspective? What if these mental monsters prove to be friendly, and what if they have the potential to bring us some positive surprises? If we take a little time to engage in some reflection, are there ways these emotional monsters (that lack of confidence; lack of clarity etc.)can perhaps serve us, teach us and help us to genuinely grow. Monsters—especially those green ones-- come in many shapes and sizes; what about the possibility that some come in peace to serve as teachers an as providers? What if that big green monster that scares us so badly and feels like our worst enemy turns out to be a friend and turns out to be just about the right size? How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you could take in the next day or so on that basis?
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Natural Grass Facts for Earth Day
Posted on April 20, 2014 Earth Day 2014 is here! 1st recognized in 1970, April 22 is the day the world unites to celebrate and support environmental protection. The Environmental Protection Agency has a unique fun program to engage kids and adults alike in their environmental commitment. Check it out! As we celebrate Earth Day in the grass field management industry, we have a lot to be proud of. The positive impact of natural grass to the environment is extensive. 2 of the most impactful facts: 1) A 2 acre soccer field in 1 year sequesters enough carbon from the air to equal driving a car from DC to LA and then back 2) A dense stand of grass reduces pollution and run off (2013 EPA Report) With those keys, here are some more fun facts are provided us by the Lawn Institute: – The front lawns of eight average houses have the cooling effect of about 70 tons (68 metric tons) of air conditioning, while the average home-size central air has only a 3 to 4 ton capacity (2.7 to 3.9 metric tons). – In a well maintained, thick 10,000 square foot (929 square meter) lawn there will be 6 turf plants per square inch (25.4 millimeters), 850 turf plants per square foot (30.45 square meters) for a total of 8.5 million turf plants. – A lawn, 50 by 50 feet releases enough oxygen for a family of four, while absorbing carbon dioxide, ozone, hydrogen fluoride, and peroxyacetyl nitrate. – A dense, healthy lawn prevents run-off, absorbing rainfall six times more effectively than a wheat field and four times better than a hay field. – Grass plants are 75 to 80% water, by weight. – Up to 90% of the weight of a grass plant is in its roots. – Grass clippings are approximately 90% water, by weight. – Clippings contain nutrients useable to the grass, when left on the lawn. – Turfgrass helps control pollution, trapping much of an estimated 12 million tons (10.9 million metric tons) of dust and dirt released annually into the US atmosphere. – As part of a well-designed and maintained landscape, turfgrass increases a home’s property value by 15 to 20 %. Additionally, here is a fantastic fact sheet on the benefits of natural grass from Kansas State University https://growinggreengrass.net/2014/04/20/natural-grass-facts-for-earth-day/ The Meanings of Green
The Green Man and Vegetation Green is no longer just a color. It's now the symbol of ecology and a verb. Since the beginning of time, green has signified growth, rebirth, and fertility. In pagan times, there was the "Green Man" - a symbol of fertility. In Muslim countries, it is a holy color and in Ireland, a lucky color. It was the color of the heavens in the Ming Dynasty. Today's greens can be found in a wide range of objects: pea soup, delicate celadon glazes, sleazy shag carpet, sickly bathroom walls, emeralds, wasabi, and sage. The English language reflects some strange attributes: Would you rather be green with envy, green behind the ears, or green around the gills? (Idiomatic American English for extremely envious, immature or nauseated.) Global Meanings of Green
Designing with Green There are more shades of green than that of any other color. Greens range from yellow-greens, such as lime and avocado greens, to those with a blue tinge (such as emerald). Aqua or turquoise are colors that are typically half green and half blue. How Green Affects Vision Color Blindness Approximately 5% - 8% of men and 0.5% of women of the world are born colorblind. People who are protans (red weak) and deutans (green weak) comprise 99% of this group. Some European countries have outlined certain traffic light colors so that it is clear which is green and which is red, by the color that has a rectangle around it. Some states in the U.S. have placed diagonal lines through green traffic lights as an aid for the colorblind. Signage: Green vs. Red Exit Signs Green exit signs have an important advantage when there is smoke in the air (in other words, when a fire is burning). With red exit signs, it looks like a fire - firemen have actually rushed into burning buildings and tried to put out the signs! With a green sign, people know it isn't the fire itself but the way to safety. Not only should Exit signs be Green to correspond to the established International Standard for Safety Signs since the early 70's but they should also have the International Standard Graphical symbol for exit as given in ISO 6309 and ISO/DIS 3864 Part 1 and Part 2. It is time to consider that all exit signs should be the same throughout the world. Time to wake up USA and join the International Community. (www.means-of-escape.com) Myths about the Effects of Green on the Body
Feng Shui claims that green eases absent-mindedness, nervousness and rudeness. http://www.colormatters.com/the-meanings-of-colors/green Inspirational Color Quotes: color Red
We all can use a little inspiration. It’s easy to concentrate on the tasks that need to be done immediately and the exigencies of our daily routines. The inspirational color quotes found in this section of the website ask you, in any way that feels right for you, to step out of the box, take a few minutes of reflection and refocus on the bigger picture. Thereafter, you might choose to take some particular action to move you in a new direction, you might want to take advantage of a quiet moment or you might choose to simply enjoy. In that spirit, here’s the inspirational color quote for this week. Noticing “He liked to observe emotions; they were like red lanterns strung along the dark unknown of another's personality, marking vulnerable points.” -- Ayn Rand (Russian born American Writer) What do you think? You’re having a conversation with someone. A friend. A co-worker. A stranger. What do you pay attention to? Their words? Their gestures? Their tone of voice? Are you focusing on the surface of what they’re saying or the feelings underlying their words. Alternatively, are you concentrating on your own part of the conversation: any anxieties you might have about what you want to say, any annoyance you might feel as to what is being said to you and how it’s being said? Ayn Rand gets me thinking because she’s pointing up the thoughts of one of her characters who Seems to particularly focus on observing the emotions of others. Sure, sometimes that’s relatively easy. You can for example often tell when someone’s angry. You can sometimes get a sense when someone is impatient and wants to end a conversation. But sometimes it’s even easier to become absorbed with your own role in the conversation or the surface of the topic being discussed. Ayn Rand makes me realize the value of simply getting curious at a deeper level about what another person is thinking and feeling. She encourages all of us to become more conscious listeners. At the same time, it’s important to ask why we want to better understand another person’s perspective and what kinds of things we want to know. Because we want to get a deeper sense of what makes them tick and who they are? Because we want To get a better idea of when they’re having difficulties and in need of help? It may be a side bar to the main thought, but Ayn Rand’s character wants to understand emotions and personalities in particular to get a sense of people’s vulnerable points. Why such a focus? To take advantage of others? To catch them when they’re down? I like the focus on emotions and personality; but think about it-- there’s a whole range of emotions to consider besides the vulnerable ones, and aren’t some of those often actually more important. Hmm, said differently, I don’t think it would make me happy to know that what someone wants to know about me first and foremost emphasizes the things that make me feel vulnerable; that’s my choice to tell. But on the whole, Ayn Rand gets me thinking more deeply about what I notice in ordinary conversations and interactions, and she puts forward the idea that going deeper into people’s underlying emotions may be even easier than we think. If we just pay a little more attention, we might notice that those emotions and deeper feelings after all stand out like bright red lanterns; they’re in the end quite easy and quite profoundly rewarding to pick out. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you could 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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