Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Purple
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. Purple quote of the Week Regrouping “I'm feeling pretty good, ... I told them it's their call. I'm not trying to win a Purple Heart. But I probably can play.” -- Mike Piazza (baseball player; catcher; induction ceremony into baseball Hall of Fame to take place Sunday 7/24/2016) What do you do when you’re not feeling 100%? Under what conditions does it make sense to stop to regroup, and when does it make sense to push through a physical (or emotional) challenge to keep going? These are questions that become pretty concrete to an athlete who needs to balance numerous considerations—the degree of an injury, the potential to make a contribution, the needs of the team—when deciding as to whether or not to compete. But more frequently than we would like, these choices come front and center for the rest of us too. We feel tired, notice minor aches and pains or for whatever reason—sometimes we don’t even needa reason—we simply want to take a break. Heading home to some relaxation, taking a night off or playing hookey from school or work can often seem pretty inviting. when does it make sense, either in the name of self-care or the more vicarious mood of the moment, to take the break and rest, and when does it seem important to push through, opting for more productivity, seeking more forward movement on a particular front or simply completing a job? For Mike Piazza, star catcher with the Los Angeles dodgers and later the new York Mets, decisions as to whether or not to play on any given day were critical to the success of his team. At least in the particular moment he was quoted here, he was willing to leave the choice as to his availability to the team’s medical staff and coaches. What about you? How often do you feel these conflicts, how do you handle them and what considerations do you take into account? How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two steps you can take this week, when faced with such a dilemma, to make sure you’re really satisfied with your choice? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Purple and Turquoise 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. Seeing It All “We have the most beautiful planet - the Rockies, the purple fields of the United States, the Lake District, the Pyrenees, the turquoise seas of the tropics.” --Dan Aykroyd (actor/comedian) Can you think of a time when you simply stepped back to first observe and then enjoy the bigger picture? You were sitting on your porch and you scoped out the entire scene around you? You spent time at a mall and you took a minute to observe all the surroundings—the shops and the shoppers, the interactions, the variety of comings and goings? What about something really big: the big picture of your life: your relationships, career, recreational activities, spiritual beliefs? Ok, maybe we don’t want to make it all that big just yet! But Dan Aykroyd has given us a lot to think about. He’s got the detail to hook us in—The Rockies, the turquoise seas of the Tropics and of course the purple fields of The United States. It’s description replete with imagery and with contrasts—including mountains, fields and The Lake District and of course the contrasting colors of turquoise and purple. The vividness of his description gets me excited. It motivates me to explore and engage and perhaps even take a trip. But at the same time, the picture Dan Aykroyd paints encourages me to concentrate on the whole. It’s not just the Rockies. It’s not just the Pyrenees. Especially at a time of such great concern about global warming, it’s a broad swath of the earth, an he’s right; it’s beautiful. There’s no question that the detail is important. Let’s enjoy each part of the globe for every last piece of beauty. Ditto our relationships, careers or our recreational activities. But Dan Aykroyd hits it out of the park when he reminds us of the importance of as well broadening our scope, capturing the panorama and observing things from a larger vantage point. How wonderful is the whole and how meaningful is it to integrate all the parts! 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors black, azure, indigo, cerulean, cobalt, periwinkle 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. Possibilities "I have no idea how he knows when I need him. We can go weeks without speaking, and then, when my blue moods threaten to turn black, he will show up and tell me my moods are azure, indigo, cerulean, cobalt, periwinkle and suddenly the blue will not seem so dark, more like the color of a noon-bright sky.” --David Levithan (author/editor; quote from The Realm of Possibility (2004)) What do you think? Which of all the images here stands out most for you? And if you think about it, there really are a lot of ideas and images here. First off, I like the colors! It’s not just about blue; it’s about azure, cobalt a cerulean. And it’s about adding in some of the close relatives, indigo and periwinkle. What a lot of shades and nuances to the colors we can experience and of course to the moods and feelings we have. We think we’re feeling angry, but there’s really a whole range of angry feelings—from mild irritation to serious rage. We call ourselves depressed, but there’s a continuum of variation simply being down in a moment due to a specific circumstance to depression needing medical attention. Surprisingly too, we can even be experiencing multiple feelings just about simultaneously, Thus, at the very time when the character in the quote describes that her moods are somewhere between blue and black, there’s the reminder that there’s also many different shades popping around in her head just waiting to be activated. And sometimes perhaps it’s that switch of focus and that waiting to be activated that’s the key. We’re feeling down. We think it’ll take a lot to get us out of that state. But sometimes maybe all it takes is a small change—in this case a focus on some brighter and happier colors—that’s all that’s needed to turn things around. we can change our state of mind sometimes in an instant and sometimes by doing something as small and simple as changing the color that’s imaging around in our head. There’s a lot of uplifting imagery here. Lots of different colors put before us. The potential ability to quickly change our state. And of course, there’s the friendship that’s at the heart of the image. Someone to remind you things is ok when you’re feeling down. Someone to share experiences with. Someone who knows you really well. Isn’t it just the best, and doesn’t it bring out a lot more of your colors? Quite simply, “I have no idea how he knows when I need him.” But when he’s around, I feel “more like the color of a noon-bright sky.” 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Gold, Black and Periwinkle 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. Happy . "It's an odd thing, happiness. Some people take happiness from gold. Or black pearls. And some of us, far more fortunate, take their happiness from periwinkles." --Patricia A. McKillip (author) What do you think? More, what makes you happy? I get Ms McKillip’s idea here. Ok so some people get their happiness from what most of us at first blush might label as ambition or greed. They want the gold. They want the black pearls. They want money, success, finery and all the trappings that come with such a life style. Aren’t we, as she says, more fortunate if we instead value the simple things, the walk in the woods, the gift from a lover, the enjoyment of a home cooked meal or the flowers we know as periwinkles. For her, it’s not about the outer trappings, the ruling the world or the showiness of an expensive life style. It’s about the simple things and the ways they provide joy. That seems to me a pretty good life style. But as important as the above thoughts are, let’s back up a minute to expand the ways we can think about these alternatives. Ms. McKillip has taken us down a stereotypic route. Periwinkles and the enjoyment of the simple and natural life are what we should want. Gold and black pearls for her are not so desirable. But is it really so “bad” to want that gold and those black pearls? Under some circumstances, the status that comes with wealth and the outer trappings may be a byproduct of providing good leadership, overcoming challenges or taking advantage of opportunities; and is a certain amount of gold and black pearls really such a bad thing? What about the possibility of enjoying gold and black pearls even at the same time as you enjoy periwinkles? Finally and getting to the heart of the matter, isn’t Ms. McKillip asking us to get in touch with something even simpler than making a choice between different ways to be happy? . In broad strokes, isn’t she asking us to think about what makes us happy In the first place, and isn’t she urging each of us to make those things more central in our lives? Each of us might make a different choice when it comes to what makes us happy, but we can all agree on the importance of finding happy in the first place. 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: color Periwinkle 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. A Small Change "They always call depression the blues, but I would have been happy to waken to a periwinkle outlook.” --Gillian Flynn (author) Hey, wait a minute; before we get the down side, let’s set the record straight: blue is a pretty good color. It’s associated with some things I like a lot: the ocean and the sky; blue jeans;blue plate specials which are cheap meals offered at some diners; blue ribbons to signify that you have won a first prize; an simply true blue to acknowledge the values of loyalty and truth. And yes of course, as author Gillian Flynn reminds us, the “blues” is also often what we call feelings of depression. , Hmm, but like the color, perhaps then having the “blues” sometimes isn’t all so bad. Perhaps feelings of depression have something to teach us. Our instinct is to put such feelings under the rug, avoid them and try to move forward as quickly as we can. Perhaps the color blue here is here to remind us that there’s a better way, to recognize when we’re feeling down and to try to figure out where those feelings come from before we try to too quickly move forward, pretending everything’s ok. But Gillian Flynn is reminding us of an equally important possibility too. Periwinkle is also a pretty good color, and it too is connected to some things we also like a lot. Periwinkle is the name of Tinkerbelle’s fairy sister in a couple of Disney movies and the cat in the popular children’s tv show Blues Clues. It’s a combination of the colors blue and purple so it deepends our perspective on each. It’s a flower symbolic of friendship; and to me, it’s just got a name which makes you want to smile. So at the same time as we want to learn from any feelings of depression, it’s a great idea to try to do that and other things with “a periwinkle outlook—an outlook that’s connected to some pretty happy things, one that through the symbolism of the flower points our attention toward the support of friends and one that simply makes you feel positive. Finally depending on the shade, it’s important to remember that there’s not always such a big difference between the color blue and the color periwinkle. It’s easy to forget that in color and with a lot of other things, even a small change (here the color you image in your head) can have a surprisingly large impact on how you feel. I want to honor (to some extent) the times I’m feeling down, but as is true for Gillian Flynn, I’d also like to awaken to a periwinkle outlook. 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: color Periwinkle 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. Perspectives and Possibilities “Life is like a box of crayons. Most people are the 8 color boxes, but what you're really looking for are the 64 color boxes with the sharpeners on the back. I fancy myself to be a 64 color box, though I've got a few missing. It's okay though, because I've got some more vibrant colors like periwinkle at my disposal. --John Mayer (singer/entertainer) What do you think? There’s a little bit of snarkiness here that I could do without. Most people are 8 color boxes but Mr. Mayer is a 64 color box. Well, how does he know that? How do you exactly define which people fit into which kind of boxes? How do you tell who is an 8-color vs a 64-color box person? That said, this observation really gets you thinking. It’s a great idea. What if we could more often think of ourselves as a box of crayons? With as many and as diverse a set of colors (and feelings) as we want and with colors (and feelings) that change whenever we want or need them to? You’re having a “blue” day; what might need to happen to change it to red? Things look kind of black? That’s ok; let’s honor those feelings for awhile; then perhaps let’s draw with some kind of orange? The box of crayons is such a great metaphor because setting aside the actual number of crayons there are in your box, it’s enlightening and empowering to think that there’s all these different colors, feelings, images and perspectives inside of each of us, and to know they can all coexist with each other most of the time. Ok, you’re experiencing a day that’s predominantly blue. That’s fine; the more you think about it though, there’s probably also some red, green and yellow hanging out just waiting to be called forth. You can pull out whichever crayon or feeling you want at a particular time. You can know that when you’re feeling one particular feeling, it doesn’t need to define who you are; that feeling is a part of you but there’s many many more hanging out inside you, at your beck and call. Finally, let’s particularly acknowledge that periwinkle crayon that Mr. Mayer singles out. As he says, periwinkle is vibrant; it’s warm and it’s light. It reminds us of flowers and nature. It’s a combination of purple and blue so it gets to combine the best qualities of both colors. And it’s got to be a fun color because it’s got such a fun and unique name! Each of us has a crayon box of colors and feelings inside of us. Let’s use them to the fullest to explore and to engage, and let’s honor each and every last crayon, including all those overlooked shades and colors that have more to teach us than we realize. Go Periwinkle! 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Green (05/2016) Sally Friedman* 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. Be Bold! “The world is exploding in emerald, sage, and lusty chartreuse — neon green with so much yellow in it. It is an explosive green that, if one could watch it moment by moment throughout the day, it would grow in every dimension.”
The “explosive” emerald, sage, and especially chartreuse that Amy Seidl describes serve as reminders to grow, to step out courageously, and to be who you genuinely are. You might want to start from within; and you might want to, as Amy Seidl suggests, view your own development as akin to the unfolding of the processes taking place out there in the natural world. There’s already so much wonderful green, and it presents itself in objects of so many shapes, so many sizes, and of course, so many shades. It starts out pretty vibrant in the first place, and it only gets better from there. The colors and the textures keep changing, and “if one could watch it moment by moment throughout the day, it would grow [and deepen] in every dimension.” Oh, if we could only think of ourselves in such positive terms more often. And then there’s the putting yourself out there part. There’s the emerald, the sage, and particularly the chartreuse — neon-bright and explosive. After all, chartreuse is such a unique color, serving to draw attention and to provide contrast to its surroundings. So therein is the reminder to follow the lead of chartreuse; it’s about being you, and as you’re moved to do, it’s about boldly doing so. For Amy Seidl, the chartreuse color is incredibly positive; for others, it’s not a favorite. Regardless, notice. Appreciate. Learn. Let chartreuse set the example, and take a cue to stand out as you really are. How do these ideas resonate with you? In what one or two ways this week might you choose to “explode” into a little more chartreuse or just take a couple of small steps to put more of your genuine self out there into the universe? *From Sally Friedman: 52 Quotes to Color Your Weeks Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Green (05/2016) Sally Friedman 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. You Don’t Always Need the Spotlight “The colour with which nature has tinted the background of all her pictures, green, is the most suitable ground for other colours. It unites wonderfully well with the yellow and blue which have produced it; it heightens red, and there is no flower or ripe fruit which it does not set off to greater advantage.” --Charles Blanc (author; "Personal Adornment: Colours and Their Expression” (1875)) What do you think? Green seems to me to be a great and sometimes an underappreciated color. Just head out in nature and be soothed and intrigued by its many shades and textures. Look around your home to notice without any ostentation how having even just a little green around—in plants, on the walls or carpet—or as part of your wardrobe--adds a unique perspective. There’s also some pretty wonderful associations we have with the color; when we see green, we’re often reminded to focus on qualities including abundance, new opportunities, and all manner of possibilities for physical and emotional growth. To top it off, it’s the color of the heart chakra; let’s go inside ourselves to find what truly calls to us, and as the heart would have us do, let’s simply give more attention to the things we love. In that spirit, Mr Blanc over a century ago focused our attention on a too often overlooked aspect of the color green. It’s a great background color. When it’s around, other colors are enhanced; they’re more allowed to speak for themselves, and they get their chance to become the center of attention. Mr. Blanc makes the images more vivid by reminding us how green “unites wonderfully well with the yellow and blue which have produced it; it heightens red, and there is no flower or ripe fruit which it does not set off to greater advantage.” Isn’t that also a wonderful description of a role we ourselves might more consciously and systematically want to take on? What if we were to follow the lead of green to refocus on coming up with ways to let other people stand out, to encourage them to speak for themselves and to follow their own callings. Sure for each of us, it all begins with loving and appreciating ourselves. It’s important to focus on what we ourselves need and want. but Mr. Blanc and the color green help us remember it’s about sharing and complementing too. On its own, green has some pretty wonderful qualities; but it’s also a great background color. Let’s get the most out of it, and in its spirit of growth and expansion, let’s use our learnings from green to do the things that make things better for others and that help them too as well stand out. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are a couple of things you might want to do in the next day or so on that basis? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: color Turquoise 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. The Gift and the Giver “A turquoise given by a loving hand carries with it happiness and good fortune." --Arabic proverb as represented in Judy Hall, 101 Power Crystals: The Ultimate Guide to Magical Crystals, Gems, and Stones for Healing and Transformation What do you think? What means more to you: the gift or the giver? It’s a thought provoking proverb that Judy Hill has preserved for us. It’s not surprising the proverb comes to us from Arabic; the color turquoise plays an important role in the Muslim community, and it’s a significant color in mosques. Judy Hill is also right; the stone has long been associated with characteristics including happiness and good fortune. As well, the stone is considered to be a powerful one and represents healing, good communication and empathy. But what I most like about Judy Hill’s characterization of the proverb is that it’s not just about the stone itself. According to the proverb, it’s also about the spirit of the giver. Give out of love and you transmit these qualities. Otherwise, the stone has much less power. What’s more important: the gift or the giver? Can’t you just imagine some young explorer getting excited? I just found a turquoise stone. It was just lying there on the ground; It’s beautiful; and it signifies good fortune! Let’s not make light of it. As any little child—and many many adults—will tell you in a heartbeat, presents matter. They’re fun to get, there’s an element of surprise to what’s inside the wrapping paper, and at their best, those gifts will light up your life. And yet aren’t those presents made even more special because of the givers? Of course you like receiving the actual gift. Who wouldn’t? But wasn’t part of the reason the gift meant so much due to the nature of the giver? You got a present from a favorite relative, a special friend or someone who was particularly attuned to the kind of things they knew you deemed to be special. Sure, turquoise, the stone is a valuable find; but don’t you think, as the proverb highlights, its value increases even more because it came to you from a loving hand? 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: color Gold 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. Random Acts of What’s special “He hangs in shades the orange bright, / Like golden lamps in a green night.” Andrew Marvell (British poet/politician 1621-1678; quote is from his poem Bermudas) As you read this, what do you think Mr. marvell had in mind? What images or feelings come front and center as you read the line from his poem? For me, what attracted me to this language is the colorful imagery. I thought, I don’t know exactly what this means but it simply makes me appreciate the wonderful color and the diversity out there. It gets me feeling a little more curious and excited about noticing what’s around. It turns out that the poem Bermudas, from which this line was taken, was written about a group of sailors journeying in the 1600s presumably from somewhere in Europe to the islands of Bermuda, and it turns out that the “he” who turns the orange bright into golden lamps in a green night” is in fact in praise of the God who kept the crew safe throughout their difficult journey and who brought them at the end to a truly beautiful land. Nice images and nice thoughts. As with all good poetry, there’s the potential for many takeaways. There’s the beautiful colors, particularly welcoming as they represent the culmination of a long and arduous voyage. There’s the emphasis on a religious deity and all the wonders and comforts that can come from the belief in such an omnipotent being. There’s the profound idea that that omnipotent being is not only at hand but also is actively working for each of us as a protector and as a provider of good. For me, one other piece stands out too. If a deity serves as such an active protector and provider for each of us then what about the possibility for each of us in turn more consciously to take action to protect, provide and nurture each other? What if each of us in a more active way tried to become, as they say a beacon for reaching out and doing more good things in the world? Sometimes these kinds of admonitions can sound trite perhaps, but they’re also important. Without taking anything away from the omnipotence of God, those sailors on their own must have done a lot to help and support each other and to work to ensure the safety of every person on the crew. Even as they gave thanks and enjoyed their good fortune, I hope they acknowledged their own efforts, their teamwork and the relationships which nurtured them throughout their many months at sea. I like the poem’s imagery, and I like the spirit of individual agency that calls each of us to take an active role in building community, in turn enhancing the kind of golden light Mr. marvell wants so much for each of us to enjoy. What does Mr. Marvell’s line of poetry mean to you, and in what one or two ways this week might you be moved to take some action putting into practice your interpretation? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: color gold 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. The Real Treasure “All that is gold does not glitter.”* J.R.R. Tolkien (author, Lord of the rings) How influenced are you by physical appearance? In what ways do you judge someone based on what they’re wearing or how they’re looking? Of course, there are times—going on a job interview, a first date or a formal gala—when what we’re wearing or how we’re looking can be critical. And there are times when it’s just plain fun and even confidence building to focus on our appearance. So let’s not downplay the importance of looking good. At the same time, author Tolkien reminds us of the old adage that the personal characteristics we so value in others as true gold don’t have to be accompanied by glitter and glitz. Wouldn’t some of the qualities we would consider in this regard include honesty, loyalty and just being down-to-earth? Someone who takes time to listen? Someone who really stands up for you? You can certainly cultivate those attributes without a lot of notice or fanfare. The reminder is particularly meaningful from Tolkien—at least for those of us who have come to love his stories of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings—because the poem of which this line is a part is so central to the plot. If you know the books, you know the unassuming, if not positively bedraggled, character of Strider the Hobbits happen on at a rural inn turns out to be a man (real name Aragorn) of unusual intelligence, humanity and skill. In fact, unbenounced to the hobbits at the time, it is he who has been destined to be king of Middle Earth. All that is gold does not glitter. Even as we acknowledge that a focus on outward appearances or even the trappings of wealth don’t have to be the negative thing we often portray, it seems also important to remember that true gold comes in many and even nonobvious forms. In what one or two ways this week might you look for hidden treasure in unexpected places? *”All that is gold does not glitter” From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, which offers an explanation of Tolkien’s poem. Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: colors Brown, Blue, Green, Turquoise and Teal 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. A matter of Perspective “Our love was somewhere between blue and green. I thought it was turquoise, and she thought it was teal, and that’s ultimately why we broke up. Well, that and she fell for a guy whose last name was Brown, of all colors.” --― Jarod Kintz (author; Love quotes for the ages. And the ageless sages.) What do you think? There’s sure a lot of color for thought here, which seems about right. If you’re talking about love, there’s about as many colors as there are emotions, images and thoughts. Well, it’s not exactly clear why there love is in the first place somewhere between blue and green—because one of them likes to be near water and the other likes to sit out and enjoy the green of nature? Because if you think about the energy system of the chakras green is the color of the heart chakra and blue is the color of the communication chakra, so one of these two people likes to act from the heart and the other likes to communicate without giving much thought to what they’re saying? So we don’t know why this starts with blue and green. We just know they’re apparently arguing about things that to some would represent only small differences. Is the best shade between blue and green depicted by the color turquoise or by the color teal? Should I really care? But then again maybe if you’ve got two artists in the family, that kind of disagreement can make a big difference and is exactly the kind of stuff you’d want to argue about. But is it really? Hmm, well, like love, sometimes it takes a bit to get to the real thing—oops, here that would be Mr. Brown. And what’s he really like? Well, I guess that depends on who you ask. Ask the guy who has lost his girlfriend and you can see why he’d be saying—and loudly at that—“Brown, of all colors!” Ok, sure, brown might be considered by some to be a little dull in comparison with blue, green, turquoise or teal. Dull? Boring? Conventional? Lurking in the background? Not a color that invites creativity? Hmm, but what else? Actually for some people wouldn’t brown be considered a pretty nice background that makes a lot of other colors—including blue, green, turquoise and teal—stand out even more? It’s a solid and dependable color that reminds you to put first things first and focus on being grounded and stable. It’s got more depth than you’d think, and it surrounds us—with love—in more ways than you’d at first expect. Just look around to see that. So it’s all a matter of perspective. There’s a lot of colors around; which do you choose? And there’s a lot of things you’d want to cultivate in relationships; which would you choose? And of course if I was jilted for a partner whose name was Brown, I’d adopt exactly the perspective on the color that Mr. Kintz describes. 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Brown and Purple 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. Perspective “If I were to assign a color combination to my love for you, it would be purple and brown, because you are a royal pain in the ass.” --―Jarod Kintz; author; This Book is Not FOR SALE What do you think? It’s a pretty unusual color combination, right? He makes you laugh, right? Having some fun is always important, particularly when you’re in the middle of a difficult personal situation. Humor can really change the name of the game! An idea we acknowledge but often forget about in the heat of the moment. So you’ve got to hand it to him; Mr. Kintz is providing a really good start. And there’s more here too, perhaps even more than Mr. Kintz intended with his flip and throw-away kind of line. How do you respond when you think your partner, a good friend or someone who you really really care about is acting in a way you would describe as a pain in the ass? Even a royal pain in the ass? If you’re like me, your first thought is the desire to respond in kind. Someone is acting like a jerk; you get triggered; it’s easy to do something that will escalate the issue, expand the conflict or in the end just make everyone feel bad. And we tend to react before we even give ourselves time to think things through. But what about using Mr. Kintz’ ideas to try out a different perspective? He starts out by wanting to assign a color combination for the actions of a person he loves. Even before he describes particular colors that would fit the bill, his first thought is to highlight the love he has for this person. . It’s not necessarily that he’s angry, and it’s certainly not about throwing her out of his life. He loves her and yet he wants to let her know that at least some of the time she can remind him of the purple and brown colors he says depict her behavior. Hey, you live in close proximity to someone or you’re just really close. Isn’t it natural and normal that said person will have moments that will make you respond in the manner Mr. Kintz does. Even royal pains in the asses can be pretty lovable—most of the time. And from the other side, what about switching the perspective to that of the person Mr. Kintz is describing? Hey, aren’t there times when each of us has the right to be a pain in the ass? And if we’re going to do it, what about going all the way and going about it in a royal manner? So what about following Mr. Kintz’ example? Remembering how much you love them, Cut people—including yourself-- some slack when you know they’re feeling triggered. Give yourself permission when you really need to to be that pain in the ass he’s describing. Mostly, take it all in with a grain of salt, having fun with that purple and brown combination in the process. 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Blue 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. Empowerment: Well It Starts At Home “Our work for human dignity is often lonely, and almost always an uphill climb. At times, our efforts are misunderstood, and we are mistaken for the enemy. There has been a clear erosion of respect for U.N. blue and our impartiality.” --Ban Ki-moon (United Nations Secretary General) What do you think? Is work for human dignity “often lonely” and “almost always” the kind of uphill climb Ban Ki-moon is describing? Is it too frequently misunderstood?? There’s of course the specific global context to which Mr. Moon is referring. He’s certainly providing important reminders about serious efforts emanating from all parts of the globe: efforts to empower citizens in repressive societies, attempts to expand the reach of human rights and as he says, in all contexts possible, to assert the dignity of each and every one of us, regardless of all the kinds of characteristics (race, gender, ethnicity, economic status) that sometimes divide us. What can we do to better relationships among nations, tribes, warring clans or races? What can each of us do to enhance respect for the other side and promote human dignity? The political context to which Mr. Moon is referring provides an important reminder and the kind of call to action that we often hear but equally often we fail to pay heed. But let’s also get closer to home and adapt these ideas to the personal level too. What do you think about Ban Kai-Moon’s thoughts as they might apply in our own everyday lives? Do you think the “fight” for human dignity—here read anything each of us might be doing to enhance our own individual and personal empowerment-- feels like an uphill climb? Is the struggle lonely? Is it often misunderstood? I think there’s a surprising amount of truth in these observations that on the surface seem pretty remote from our everyday situations. But doesn’t it seem the case that when you want something to be different in your life change seems to take place slowly and often at a speed that feels slower than we want? Isn’t it true that the path can be frustrating and lonely and that we do sometimes feel misunderstood? Isn’t that exactly the kind of uphill climb Mr. Moon is describing. Often we don’t want to become vulnerable or to express our insecurities? Often our quiet struggles go unrecognized and sometimes even swept under the rug. We simply don’t always share the hard things, and we don’t always “feel” heard when we do. So what if we adapted Mr. Moon’s call to political and social action to our personal lives too? Make it a priority to Promote each other’s ability to go for what we want? Do just a little more each day to enhance our own self respect and growth? Mr. Moon is reminding us that if we want big change around the world, perhaps the best way to achieve that change is after all to start with the little things we do for ourselves in the privacy of our own homes. And there’s one final point here too. Mr. Moon specifically points us to the symbol of U.N. blue. What should be done about any losses of respect for the United Nations as Mr. Moon wants us to think about is better left for discussion in another forum But the idea of a symbol in the first place to stand for human dignity is a pretty cool concept. You see UN blue, and you know exactly what it means. You know what they represent, and if you’re like Mr. Moon, you appreciate the impartiality that the blue stands for. What about for the rest of us? Would having more symbols of whatever color or shape or size around provide a tangible reminder that it’s important for each of us to work on enhancing our own individual self respect and dignity? 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Blue 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. What’s Important? “When people are infected by my charm, they don't see my size. My piercing deep blue eyes are distracting.” --Peter Dinklage (actor; those in the know will know he plays Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones) What do you think? What characteristics do you pay attention to when you initially meet someone? The nature of their physical appearance? Their clothing? Whether they’re smiling and looking friendly? With this quote, you might think actor Peter Dinklage is a pretty arrogant kind of guy. Does he really need to describe himself as charming? Does he really need to draw attention To the brilliance of his piercing and deep blue eyes? Does he feel so unlovable that he has in the first place to call so much attention to himself? It turns out that his brief observation is actually raising in ways deeper than we at first realize some profound questions about the ways we form first and perhaps even subsequent impressions. For him, it’s not about arrogance. It’s not about trying to stand out or call undue attention to himself, and it’s not just about charm or distracting blue eyes. Mr. Dinklage is also referring to his size, and he’s doing so because it turns out that because of a complex physical condition from birth, he’s quite literally what we call a dwarf. He stands approximately 4 feet 5 inches tall. Needing to fit in a society that sadly isn’t always as accepting as it should be of difference, what must he do to get people to get past his short stature and to focus on what truly matters? Does he think he needs to compensate by exuding extra special charm? Is he uncertain about whether people will like him on his own terms? Regardless, he’s making a lot of important points, and he’s reminding us to think about what we notice about people and the real issues involved about how to get noticed for who you really are when you’re viewed as “different.” There’s no doubt that such issues are often too easily swept under the rug, and Mr. Dinkolege is doing us a service with his courage to put them front and center. At the same time, isn’t he reminding us of something we hope runs even deeper? Isn’t he asking us to get in touch with what we all have in common too? The insecurities each and every one of us has about whether we’ll be able to fit in. The dilemmas we face when we consciously or not decide which of our many characteristics—physical lor otherwise—we’ll want to present to others? You don’t have to experience a physical “disability” to feel isolated or out-of-place! And from another perspective altogether, there’s a final point as well. Though perhaps indirectly, isn’t Mr. Dinklage reminding us to have some fun too. Sure, he’s raising serious issues. He’s asking us to think in new ways. But let’s have some fun with his initial observation. . In the end, what about stepping back, just smiling and letting ourselves be taken in by those piercing and distracting blue eyes 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Blue and 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. Yes! “I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.” E.E. Cummings (poet) What are four or five things you have really felt happy about this week? Activities you have engaged in? People you have hung out with? Times you have spent around the house just relaxing? We find a lot of ways to identify negativity in our lives. Some of this focus makes good sense and can prove helpful in bettering our situation. What would it be like if we more often countered this perspective by seeing the world from a positive vantage point? What if we asked more questions about what’s going right? What’s just really good? What’s happy? So, in contrast to some of the usual patterns of negativity, doesn’t E.E. Cummings’ observation just make you feel good? What’s better than being out in nature checking out the green trees and blue skies? What’s more affirming than thinking and rethinking times that are so good you really feel close to the “Infinite”? And what’s more wonderful than approaching life with the attitude that just says “Yes!” How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two things you could do this week to bring more “yes” into your life? *Taken from Sally Friedman: 52 Quotes To Color Your Weeks… Plus A Few More (2015; quote #26) Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Purple and Blue 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. Purple Ketchup? “At one time, Heinz tried making strangely colored ketchup, including purple, but gave up on it because consumers didn't believe it was ketchup. Would you eat a blue steak?” --Michael Michalko (creativity expert) What about you? Would you jump on the bandwagon for ketchup that’s purple? Would you run out with your date for a steak that’s blue? More generally, when would you be willing to step out of the box to go for something unusual, or when do you want that which is familiar and tried-and-true? Michael Michalko’s quote is so interesting, and he really gets me thinking. Sometimes there is a real dilemma: when do we want what we have always done or when do we seek to embrace change? Think about the number of situations where this choice can come up-- what we’re doing during holidays; the places we take our dates; and of course, as Heinz found out, the foods we choose to eat. Can’t you for instance just hear some 9-year old child seeing Heinz’ new coloring and going “ooh, yuck” to the sight of purple ketchup? Obviously many adults thought the same way. But can’t you also imagine people who would be intrigued at the possibilities offered by the changes. let’s see if some altered ingredient in the chemical formula makes the taste even a little better. Wow, that new bottle really catches your attention. What an interesting experiment; who would have thought there could be so many varieties of a tried-and-true product. Good for Heinz for experimenting and for changing lanes so to speak! As often as we make decisions balancing stability and change and as important as it is to consider the factors impacting our choices, Michael Michalko wants us to think about some other possibilities too. Working as an expert on creativity, he’s consistently teaching techniques designed to help us expand our horizons. He wants us to begin with what we know but also learn to see things in unusual and novel ways. So for example is it really an either/or proposition, and do we really have to choose between stability and change? If we want to, are there ways we can expand our thinking so we can incorporate more of both in our lives?? Bring some old furniture into our new house? Bring a new friend to a traditional family dinner? Enjoy our sports but check out hockey instead of that preverbal baseball game. In the end wasn’t the very integration of stability and change what Heinz was in fact going for when designing that purple ketchup? What about you? When do you prefer what you have consistently done, when do you want to try something different, and in what ways might balancing the two help you set things in a broader perspective? 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?? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: colors Mauve, Pink, Purple 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. A Pretender? “Mauve? Mauve is just pink trying to be purple.” -- (James Abbott McNeill Whistler (American painter) What do you think? This really made me laugh. Is mauve its own unique and original color or Is it some great pretender, just a shade of pink trying to be purple? Wow, should I really care? I grew up assuming the former; I never would have thought to even go further with the matter to frame a discussion around these alternatives, and at first glance is this even worthy of that much attention? But hold on. If you think more deeply, Mr. Whistler’s observation makes you think and perhaps see color—and other things too in an entirely different way. In terms of color theory, how you view particular shadings has critical implications, and if you think of colors as having their own unique characteristics and personalities, describing a particular color as simply a mere pretender is making a pretty strong statement. If I was the real Mauve, I could be pretty upset. As well, Mr. Whistler’s ideas about pretenders and by extension honesty particularly hit home in the context of categorizing shades of the color purple, a color long linked to the development of intuition and therefore with qualities of truth So moving beyond color, what about each of us and the individual actions we choose to take? Under what circumstances are we truly being who we are? Alternatively when are we behaving in ways that capture our “pretender” side and serve more as reflections of who we think we are supposed to be? You’re at a clothing store trying out a new (purple) shirt; do the color and style of that shirt really work for you or by buying it, are you simply trying to please your boss? You’re invited to a party; do you really want to go? You have a day off; are you spending that critical leisure time in a way that really recharges you? Again wow, how often do we really ask ourselves these questions and how important is it that we do so? And there’s something else here too. What if we came at this idea of pretending from an opposite direction altogether?, What if the color mauve in its pretense of pink trying to be purple has something important to teach us in a way Mr. Whistler never even considered? sometimes it’s fun and even valuable to “act” and let some “make believe” in your life. What would it be like to have in your wardrobe a shirt that’s not your usual style? To check out what feels like an obligatory party and surprise yourself with how much fun you find yourself having? To spend a day of leisure engaging in some activity you have never tried out before? Maybe Mauve simply wants to engage in some play acting of its own? Surprisingly then there’s a lot of color for thought in Mr. Whistler’s brief excerpt. In the end, where do you yourself come down? Would you say you are more like the shade of mauve that’s just pink trying to be purple or are you like that genuine and true mauve (or pink or purple) that reflects who you really and truly are? 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Purple and Turquoise 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. Seeing It All “We have the most beautiful planet - the Rockies, the purple fields of the United States, the Lake District, the Pyrenees, the turquoise seas of the tropics.” --Dan Aykroyd (actor/comedian) Can you think of a time when you simply stepped back to first observe and then enjoy the bigger picture? You were sitting on your porch and you scoped out the entire scene around you? You spent time at a mall and you took a minute to observe all the surroundings—the shops and the shoppers, the interactions, the variety of comings and goings? What about something really big: the big picture of your life: your relationships, career, recreational activities, spiritual beliefs? Ok, maybe we don’t want to make it all that big just yet! But Dan Aykroyd has given us a lot to think about. He’s got the detail to hook us in—The Rockies, the turquoise seas of the Tropics and of course the purple fields of The United States. It’s description replete with imagery and with contrasts—including mountains, fields and The Lake District and of course the contrasting colors of turquoise and purple. The vividness of his description gets me excited. It motivates me to explore and engage and perhaps even take a trip. But at the same time, the picture Dan Aykroyd paints encourages me to concentrate on the whole. It’s not just the Rockies. It’s not just the Pyrenees. Especially at a time of such great concern about global warming, it’s a broad swath of the earth, an he’s right; it’s beautiful. There’s no question that the detail is important. Let’s enjoy each part of the globe for every last piece of beauty. Ditto our relationships, careers or our recreational activities. But Dan Aykroyd hits it out of the park when he reminds us of the importance of as well broadening our scope, capturing the panorama and observing things from a larger vantage point. How wonderful is the whole and how meaningful is it to integrate all the parts! 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: color Orange 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. Enjoy! “Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips.” -- John Candy (actor/comedian) What about you? Do you want an orange whip? Do you even know what an orange whip is? Well, it turns out that it’s a drink that actor John Candy was making in a scene from the movie The blues Brothers. But it’s such a cool phrase and with such a memorable ring to it. Orange whip. Orange whip. Orange whip. No wonder he needed to say it three times. You just have to have one, right? Even a “beating” from such a whip couldn’t be all that bad. And, John Candy’s orange whip also raises some intriguing questions. You don’t know what exactly an orange whip is. What and how much information would you need to decide whether or not you wanted one, and what factors would impact your ultimate choice? What do your thoughts on these questions tell you about the ways you more generally make decisions? Even more, John Candy’s orange whip encourages me to focus on the things that truly make me laugh. It’s a fun phrase. It stimulates my imagination and jump starts my curiosity. . As makes sense from someone who gave us so many fun moments, this quote just makes me want to share with others and to smile. Sometimes it’s worth foregoing any deeper meanings; sometimes it’s just about stopping to enjoy. So “who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip?” How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take today or so on that basis? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Yellow 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. Happy “Whenever the pressure of our complex city life thins my blood and numbs my brain, I seek relief in the trail; and when I hear the coyote wailing to the yellow dawn, my cares fall from me - I am happy.” -- Hamlin Garland (author; writing around the turn of the 20th century) What do you think? What kinds of things make you happy? Author Hamlin Garland’s quote caught my attention because his imagery is so evocative and because he’s so clear. He identifies with an urban setting he, noting the pressures of “our complex city life.” But he doesn’t just leave us with an abstract description. As the farm boy he really was and later as the author who focused a good portion of his work on rural settings, it is not surprising that the city occasionally gets to him; it “thins”his “blood and numbs” his brain. Pretty strong language, don’t you think? But just as Mr. Garland lets us know what he doesn’t like, he’s also clear on what makes him feel genuinely happy. And if you’ve ever been called to spend any extended time hiking around in the outdoors, you can easily relate to what he’s talking about, and you can understand why He seeks the sensory experience of the trail. You get to walk through varying terrain; you get to hear the noises of the country and in his case, you get to experience the opening into a “yellow dawn.” Ok, Mr. Garland might have enjoyed himself even more without the noise of those whaling coyotes. But what makes you happy? Mr. Garland reminds us that even if we’re not nationally known writers, it might be worth the effort to set our own happy experiences down and to the best of our ability to do so in ways vivid enough for us to really feel their power. By his own life example, he also teaches us about adapting to and enjoying all kinds of experiences—he grew up on a rural farm but came to identify with city life. Mostly, he got clear on the things that simply made him feel happy; his long- ago words encourage us to do the same. 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Many Colors! 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. Who Knew! “To a lesser extent (they like) the whites and reds, but blues, yellows and oranges are the main bee flowers. Although there are very good white bee flowers - white sweet clover is the best honey plant in the world.” --Chip Taylor (professor of ecology and biology; University of Kansas; founder of Monarch Watch) How much do you know about bees? What do you know about their life styles, their habits or their preferences? If you’re like me, the answer is not very much. I am vaguely aware of abstract talk about decreases in the world’s population of bees and the resulting consequences for the rest of us who live on the earth. But mostly I think more concretely about the annoying buzzing that comes when you’re sitting outside on a sunny day and you’re disturbed when you’re trying to enjoy a peaceful lunch! No thanks. But then here’s this interesting factoid—about the kinds of flowers bees like to eat—and it puts my view of these creatures in a totally different perspective. It starts to tell the story from the side of that itty little bee in search of food, and it reminds us, in a way that at least I hadn’t thought about, that bees and humans share a surprising and actually very important characteristic: both species can be pretty particular as to their preferences for what they like to eat. We know of course about the varying tastes and preferences of humans; Who would have thought that the color of the flowers has so much to do with the food preferences of the bees, and in this regard, who would have thought that color in the first place could make so much difference? Even more, Professor Taylor’s observation is so interesting because it sets the bees’ food preferences in the larger context of the environment which they inhabit. At the same time as Professor Taylor is letting us know about which flowers are most appealing to the bees, he’s also reminding us humans to take more note of what’s going on out there in the natural world. The color of the flowers can make so much difference in the lives of the bees, and the bees seem to be able to pay attention to specific details and differences between the kinds and colors of the flowers. Blue, yellow and orange are their favorites; White and red come in second, and it’s also clear for example that they don’t go for purple! In contrast to those apparently observant little bees, how often can some of us humans walk past a bed of flowers and not pay much attention, even to some pretty big differences in both color and texture A little factoid about bees provides some interesting food for thought in its own right and also teaches us that even a little bit of keener observation can change our perspective in profound and surprising ways. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take this week on that basis? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Citrine (and other colors) Connecting The Diverse Dots “The jeweler allows me to wear sapphire blue lake on my finger, emerald green leaves around my neck, and take the citrine sunset with me wherever I go. Jewelry has become my daytime link to nature in an office with no windows. And if I have to work late, there's nothing like diamond stars and a pearl full moon against an onyx night sky. --Astrid Alauda (author; "Office With No Windows," 2005) What do you think? What images come to mind? What wonderful creativity from Astrid Alauda to connect two on-the-surface very different worlds. There’s the world we stereotypically associate with fashion, adornment, sociability an indoor activities, and there’s the natural world out there in which we get outdoors, get our hands dirty and perhaps get away from the exigencies of every day people and everyday life. And yet, what do these two seemingly disparate worlds have in common? For author Astrid Alauda, the answer has to do with color, and she evocatively reminds us of the wide range of color to be found in both worlds. And how beautiful are the images and the connections she draws. It’s not just blue; it’s sapphire blue. It’s not just green; it’s emerald green. and it’s a beautiful citrine sunset. In terms of that which the jeweler has created, it’s not just wearing a sapphire; it’s thinking of that sapphire in terms of a sapphire blue lake. It’s not just an emerald but the emerald green so evocative of leaves and grass, and it’s not just citrine but a beautiful citrine sunset. Astrid Alauda’s rich imagery hooks you in. The different worlds she inhabits are full of metaphor and color, and her imaginative metaphors shows you she’s an incredibly keen observer. In the end, she’s found an intriguing and tangible way to link the diverse things that are so important to her. She uses her varied and colorful jewelry to help her transfer the setting of her office without windows and provide the reminders of the outdoors that she finds so inspiring. All she has to do is take the simple action of checking out her personal jewels, and wherever she is, she’s also right there amidst the beauty of the natural world, which she so clearly loves. In what couple of ways might you follow Astrid Alauda’s example, making connections between disparate areas in your own life to contribute to a more fully integrated whole? How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take this week on that basis? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: 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, along with some commentary, ask you in any way that feels right for you, to step out of the box, to take a few minutes of reflection and to 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. Imagine “Whenever you're sitting across from some important person, always picture him sitting there in a suit of long red underwear. That's the way I always operated in business.” -- Joseph P. Kennedy (American Executive, Diplomat, and father of President John F. Kennedy) What do you think? More importantly, how do you handle it when you’re dealing with someone you think is more important than you or with a situation that feels intimidating? Do you develop a plan for how you’re going to achieve the outcome you desire? Leave it to chance and trust that in the spontaneity of the moment you’ll know what to do? Simply get anxious and let the whole process upset you??? I identify with Joseph Kennedy’s observations because I’ve been there! . It’s heartening to remember when a tough situation is at hand that even people who appear to the rest of us to be most successful nonetheless experience their own doubts and struggles. If someone as legendary and perhaps as intimidating in his own right as Joseph Kennedy had to give conscious thought to handling difficulties that certainly gives the rest of us permission to acknowledge our own doubts and hesitations. Even more, Mr. Kennedy has set down his personal and somewhat unorthodox formula for dealing with people he would consider important. How did he handle them? Did he get clear on the goals he wanted to accomplish? Did he just leave things up to chance? Given the unparalleled success he experienced throughout his life time, Mr. Kennedy probably engaged in a combination of all these approaches, and he likely understood that there’s really no one-size fits all answer to these tough questions. But as a first step, it’s pretty wonderful that before he set goals or came up with a thought-out business strategy, he began by using his own imagination and by coming up with an image (a really creative one at that) which resonated for him. Aren’t these “intimidating” people at bottom and underneath just like the rest of us, with their foibles, their doubts and their uncertainties. After all, we’re not really all that different and we’re not really all that intimidating, especially when we’re caught in a relatively ignominious position: such as appearing only and entirely dressed and out in public in our long red underwear. One size certainly doesn’t fit all when you’re dealing with difficult people or situations, but Mr. Kennedy’s image is among those you might want to remember the next time you’re heading into a circumstance you find a little intimidating. 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: 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, along with some commentary, ask you in any way that feels right for you, to step out of the box, to take a few minutes of reflection and to 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. The choice to Notice “The Clinton White House today said they would start to give national security and intelligence briefings to George Bush. I don't know how well this is working out. Today after the first one Bush said, 'I've got one question: What color is the red phone?'” -- Bill Maher (American Comedian, Actor, Writer and Producer) What do you think? Does this make you laugh? It’s easy to poke fun at a president who became increasingly unpopular throughout the progression of his time in office, and it’s also the job of a comedian to focus on public figures and highlight the human foibles and idiosyncrasies that rightly or wrongly engage our attention. But whatever one’s opinion of the ex-president, at least as satirized here, it’s also easy to relate. Don’t the rest of us make the same kind of faux-pas and gaffes on sometimes an everyday basis? Isn’t it surprisingly easy to miss things that should be obvious and that are staring you right in the face? For instance, a bright red phone? And yet I think we all can identify with President bush as he was characterized here. You’re walking down the street. Did you lock your car? Where exactly did you leave it? Was the sign for the hamburger joint red or blue, or was there even a restaurant on the block? Was it the block before? There are so many chances to notice what’s around, but how much could you credibly describe? Isn’t it surprisingly easy to miss the most obvious detail? Even when the detail is right out there staring you as bright red in the face? So with his comedic though relatively unflattering characterization of President Bush, Bill Maher has as well actually provided the rest of us a surprisingly significant reminder. What about paying just a little more attention to those ordinary details? Those everyday situations which surround us? It might take some time. Noticing and practicing one’s powers of observation are of course learned skills. But here’s a case where the rewards seem well worth the effort. They’ll provide a different perspective on what’s around, they’ll suggest new and surprising things to get excited about, and they’ll identify for you reminders of the abundance out there in the world you’re inhabiting. Even more, they’ll save you from suddenly and publicly becoming the butt of a joke from a nationally known and well publicized comedian. 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Orange 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, along with some commentary, ask you in any way that feels right for you, to step out of the box, to take a few minutes of reflection and to 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. The Sweetest “If love were a color, it'd be orange. Not because that's a romantic color, but because it's the sweetest. If you want to know how I feel about you, I just made some juice out of it. Grab a glass—a tall one.” --― Jarod Kintz (author; This Book is Not FOR SALE) What do you think? Do you yourself use colors to represent feelings? What might be the advantages? Then what colors would you pick? I like Mr. Kintz’ thought to connect colors—or some other tangible symbol—to represent something more difficult to conceptualize. It helps you get a more concrete handle on the emotion, it helps you think/see that emotion in a different way and it simply offers a fun and novel way to look at the world. Hey I’m pissed off and angry. If I can represent those feelings by colors, maybe I’ll be more likely to laugh off some of the negativity? And as Mr. Kintz urges us to do, what color would you link with love? Would it be a specific color or would the color vary with how a relationship is going? Befitting the multifaceted nature of the feelings, would it be multiple colors coming together in some pretty wonderful combinations? In this regard, I actually like Mr. Kintz’ choice of orange. Maybe It’s a little sappy but the fruit is the sweetest and isn’t that first and foremost what love is all about? And there’s other associations for the color orange that make it a pretty fitting choice too. In the chakra system, it’s the color connected to the second chakra, representing energy, movement and even the sex organs. Yes, Mr. Kintz, the romance is here! As well, orange is a bit of an offbeat color. It’s happy and bright, it stands out and it represents uniqueness. In short, it seems to me that it fits the bill for exactly what you might want from love—it energizes, and above all, it makes you happy. Let’s join Mr. Kintz in his suggestion to colorize and concretize some pretty complex emotions, and let’s in our own special way follow his lead to honor all the things we deeply love in some tangible way by doing something that makes us feel both happy and sweet. 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: 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, along with some commentary, ask you in any way that feels right for you, to step out of the box, to take a few minutes of reflection and to 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. Engage “I was drinking in the surroundings: air so crisp you could snap it with your fingers and greens in every lush shade imaginable offset by autumnal flashes of red and yellow.” -- Wendy Delsol (author; Stork tags) What do you think? More to the point, how does this make you feel? Author Wendy Delsol writes with some wonderful imagery and language that truly captures for me the essence of the fall season. You’re out there in nature. The air is crisp, and there’s a wonderful array of shades of many colors. Even more, you’re not merely a passive bystander; you’re actively engaging, completely absorbing yourself in the scene. You’re truly “drinking in the surroundings.” I like the colors; I like the sensory experience; I particularly like the active engagement that comes from getting caught up in and being inspired by the moment. So ok maybe despite her eloquence, Wendy Delsol hasn’t convinced you. Maybe a day out in nature isn’t your thing. You’d rather be inside a warm toasty room rather than enjoying air so crisp it feels like your fingers could snap it, and all you want to do revolves around either participating in the kinds of summer activities that are no longer feasible or simply enjoying being indoors and sedentary. I’m drawn to this quote because at least for me Wendy Delsol is describing exactly the kind of scene that calls to me. But what speaks to me even more than her description of the wonderful fall scene is the reminder to so actively engage even with the activities that are more ordinary and even the events of the days where things aren’t going nearly as well. You don’t have to be a fan of nature to engage to the max in the ordinary events of life, particularly the things which ring true for you and really make you a fan. 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? Inspirational Color quote of the Week: Color Red Filling Out the Image “I'm in love with red. I think it's such a passionate color. Every flag of every country pretty much has red in it. It's power, there's no fence sitting with red. Either you love it or you don't. I think its blood and strength and life.” --Bryan Batt (actor) What Words and images come to mind as your own description of the color red? What more generally is your takeaway from Brian batt’s ideas? I like Mr. Batt’s quote because his description of the color red is so multidimensional and so evocative. Just think about all the images he provides in such a few words, associations to blood and strength and life and therefore at a primal level to power and passion. You really get a sense of what the color red means to him and why he’s as he says in love with the color. Butlike anything that we’re truly passionate about, in the end the choice for him also comes down to something simple. For him, when the color red is around, there’s no fence sitting and no middle ground. You love it or you hate it. You like it or you don’t. What a great ability to draw our attention to a color that teaches us to take a stand for what we really want, to find our passion and to put front and center the things that help us feel powerful. He really peaks my interest and makes me want to put more red around my house and office! And at the same time, what I most want to extrapolate from his quote is the rich description. You know he likes red, and he takes the time to fill out the image. He’s really clear on why he’s so drawn to the color, and he provides a number of associations which amplify his feelings. Because he’s so specific and because his images are so vivid, you have to think that the process of providing the description itself in turn adds notably to his own enjoyment. Take a lesson from Mr. Batt; you can’t help but increase your own passion when you spend time developing clear and meaningful associations of your own. I like his specific description of the color red. Even more, I like the way he fills out the image, getting us cleaerer on the why; his thick description notably enhances our enjoyment of the color. So it’s of course about the color red, and it’s even more about taking time to fill out your own images to clarify and enlarge the power of the things you’re passionate about. 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Black (September 2015) 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, along with some commentary, ask you in any way that feels right for you, to step out of the box, to take a few minutes of reflection and to 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. Lonely “What’s blacker than black? Does summer shade have a shadow? Is that how loneliness looks and where it lurks?” --― Jarod Kintz (author) What do you think? What does it “look” like when you feel lonely? How often have you felt these feelings, and how often have you acknowledged them? It’s quite sad , but Jarod Kintz develops some pretty profound insights here, and his characterization seems to me right on target. What a powerful metaphor to describe Loneliness in terms of “blacker than black.” Doesn’t the image leave you with a sense of emptiness and even profound darkness? Feeling difficult emotions is bad enough but to feel them when you’re also out there feeling all alone and by yourself with them seems to me to make things a thousand times worse. Don’t things, even hard things, seem easier when you’ve got people to turn to? I also think Mr. Kintz is on target about what could be an even more universal truth. It’s not just about feeling “blacker than black.” worse; it’s also about what Mr. Kintz describes as what lurks “in summer shadow.” What do we tend to keep hidden and not want to express? It seems to me that loneliness is an incredibly difficult emotion to admit to or discuss. Somehow it’s our fault. We’re ashamed of how we feel, and it’s not exactly cool to admit to feeling lonely. Hey, other people have faced these kinds of feelings. Hey just get out there and make friends. Hey, you’re not really that alone; the universe is out there and big and vast and with you So stuff the emotion or go do something about it. Jarod Kintz instead reminds us that it’s important to bring something “black” out there into the light. In so doing, we might ease those lonely feelings so they’re not so much “blacker than black,” and in the process, we might in turn give others the courage to also come out of the shadows. 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? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Black (September 2015) 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, along with some commentary, ask you in any way that feels right for you, to step out of the box, to take a few minutes of reflection and to 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. Go Johnny! “I wore black because I liked it. I still do, and wearing it still means something to me. It's still my symbol of rebellion -- against a stagnant status quo, against our hypocritical houses of God, against people whose minds are closed to others' ideas.” --―Johnny Cash (iconic American singer) How do you express your own strong beliefs? Encourage others to take action? Make a monetary contribution to your cause? Become active within the world of politics? Talk to friends but don’t follow up with action? Think it would be nice to do something about the cause but you’ll get around to it later? What I like about Johnny Cash’s quote is that he reminds us that it doesn’t always take any grand or complicated action to stand up for your beliefs. For him, it began In a small way and a way in which he was comfortable. He simply started wearing black. At all his concerts and appearances. On his TV shows and when he did interviews. Sure, there must have been times when he donated money. Sure, He likely used his considerable connections to encourage action. And sure, after he repeatedly and so publicly wore black, we all got to know what he stood for and why he wanted us too to get involved. But the bottom line is he started small, he kept it simple and he expressed himself in a way that felt comfortable. He simply and consistently dressed in a color that had genuine resonance for him. Go Johnny, and let your example teach the rest of us to go for it too. 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? Inspirational Color Quote of The Week: Color Neon Orange Be Part of the Fun “Colors are so hot this year? neon oranges, lime green, hot pink.” -- Rose Brueggenman What do you think? Hey, it’s a world of color out there. It’s about orange and green and pink. And it’s not just orange; it’s neon orange. It’s not just green and pink; it’s lime green and hot pink. It’s fun! Ok, so maybe these colors clash just a little. Maybe their in-your-face character isn’t for everyone. But this world of unusually vibrant colors has a lot to teach us. The colors remind us how much variety there is to enjoy and observe. For example, how many times today have you noticed the color orange? Have you even thought about taking time to look? And what if anything does your level awareness about colors teach you about your level of awareness more generally? Further, these brilliant colors encourage you to find your own way to take risks and to stand out. At least for me, just thinking about this barrage of crazy colors gives me an energy boost. How can you quietly sit around, do nothing or feel bad for too long with neon orange or hot pink staring you in the face? there’s no choice. Your vibration raises. You’ve just got to go eat some ice cream, run around the block or just plain get motivated and feel happy. So come on and join the party. As Rose Brueggenman reminds us, colors are hot this year.. Don’t you want to be part of the fun? How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you could take over the next day or so on that basis? Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Neon Blue Show Your Stuff “We sittin' on 22's plus 2. Mink bucket seats, neon blue. Color coordinate with them shoes. Yeah, we divas but we ride like big boys do.” --from the song Show Stopper by the group Danity Kane What do you think? Sound like they’re having fun? All dressed up riding in a flashy car. Acting like divas. Well, they probably were. Danity Kane was a group consisting of 5 young women formed out of a competition on the third iteration of the MTV reality show Making the Band (early 2000s). Producer Sean Combs had searched around the country seeking to bring talented women to New York City to compete to become part of a musical group. Out of thousands of participants and in an arduous process including voting by the public, these women were chosen. The resulting group took the name Danity Kane (named for a super hero character one of the women had created), and Show Stopper was the first song on their first album, introducing the group. What an upbeat way to get a start. And with their success in mind, what might the rest of us seek to emulate from the story of these young women and their engaging song lyrics? As we might expect from the complexity of the endeavor, many elements contributed to the success of this project. It’s certainly a story encouraging entrepreneurship—producer Combs came up with the idea to generate a process whereby several individuals would come together to form a potentially successful group, and he and his team went to great lengths to turn the concept into a reality. Not to mention the courage and the hard work displayed by the large number of singers who took the time and who honed their talents to try out for the show. It’s also a story highlighting the importance of the developing of budding friendships; the band’s initial success has been attributed to the comradery between two of the women. Not to mention their talent!* And come on, those lyrics certainly make you smile. They reflect entrepreneurship, courage and teamwork. Mostly, They call each of us to in whatever way we want to have some fun, act like divas (female or male), throw on our flashy clothes and get out there and show the world who we really are—making sure that all the while we’re remembering to show case some of that vibrant and can’t-miss neon blue! 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? *A certain amount of internal friction ultimately led to the breakup of the group. Be Bold “The best kind of shoes to express bold views / Are strapless mules in assertive hues / Like fuchsia or peach, except on the beach, / In which case you wear flats.” --Michael Korie, Scott Frankel, Doug Wright ("Revolutionary Costume for Today,” song from the Broadway Show Gray Gardens) What do you think? You want to express your views? About what and how do you go about doing so? By quietly stating your opinion? By being forceful and bold? By making a fashion statement through your choice of shoes? The quote above is taken from song lyrics included in a Broadway play about the lives of Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale ("Big Edie") and her daughter Edith Bouvier Beale ("Little Edie") The pair were relatives (aunt and cousin) of Jacqueline Kennedy and sadly, their circumstances transformed them from well off and successful socialites to two isolated and lonely women living at their New York home of Gray Gardens. But let’s stick with the happier times. These women were well-to-do. They had the status, and they caught the attention of society. They were a little bit out there, and they wanted to stand out. How did they go about attracting attention? One of their methods apparently came in their choice of shoes. For them, it wasn’t about black and brown. No, it was “bright hues” including fuchsia and peach! I’m betting they set some pretty substantial fashion trends. But what does this mean for the rest of us? Are the Beels symbolically reminding us to take stands for the things that truly matter to us? Are they encouraging us to put a little more of ourselves out there into the world than we otherwise might? Are they suggesting we devote a little more attention to enjoying our frivolous side? Do they want us to remember to have a little more fun? All intriguing possibilities. At one level, it’s easy to write off the Beels as eccentric and frivolous. They had cashe and luxury, and they probably had more pairs of shoes than we could ever imagine. But At another level, what if there’s something important to be learned from these two apparently peculiar women? Because they were also known for being pretty good hearted, we might imagine they would encourage each of us in our own way to follow their example of being a little more out there than we might otherwise attempt. They might also tell us that our own stepping out might actually make a bigger difference and be more fun than we think. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what is one small action you could take in the next day (or so) on that basis?
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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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