Colours of Emptiness?
They drag me in, drug me and leave me staring at the sky
“I will stick to any job that allows me to pleasure touching books passionately, not detaching the cost of the pleasure.”
Anna Atsu
You know how I like quests and riddles…
“I never was, am always to be,
No one ever saw me, nor ever will
And yet I am the confidence of all
To live and breathe on this terrestrial ball.
What is it? “
Recently, I embarked on a new quest. New schools, usual parking dilemmas that tag along with any change in routine.
Unknown and unpredicted
Yesterday, I probably looked as green as Kermit the Frog and possibly displayed some acting smile and felt a shade of blue while attempting to open the main door. Luckily, a gracious woman, sensing my disorientation, pointed me towards the entry to a school where conformity is rule number one.
My new rule number one is:
“You’ll learn, as you get older, that rules are made to be broken. Be bold enough to live life on your terms, and never, ever apologize for it. Go against the grain, refuse to conform, and take the road less travelled instead of the well-beaten path. Laugh in the face of adversity, and leap before you look. Dance as though EVERYBODY is watching. March to the beat of your drummer. And stubbornly refuse to fit in”.
―Mandy Hale, The Single Woman: Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass
Being bold for me is less about being just rebellious, it is about showing or requiring courage, not hesitating or being fearful in the face of rebuff (rejection of an offer, request, or friendly gesture). Buff is a yellowish-beige colour. I don’t fear buff, because yellow and grey, not far from beige make olive, which is a shade of green. And I am a green-lover.
People who spend time in nature surrounded by green vegetation—a practice the Japanese call "forest bathing"—have lower blood pressure than those who do not.
Yes, my new colours are green and blue…
Green Is Calming
Shades of green can help put people at ease in new places. I am new in my new place. I want to be at ease. True, as clowning is often a natural reaction to uncertainty, used by many to disarm the unknown, and make people laugh to trust us, I use it too. If it doesn’t disarm people, it makes me more positive.
Green Is Motivating
Although some find green a relaxing colour, others say it motivates them. One study found that people with a "high need for achievement" more consistently chose the colour green. In stoplights, green indicates safety and permission to go. In turn, the expression "to give the green light" conveys approval.
Psychology and Aging
Green of Kermit the Frog, laughing mascot, the pragmatic everyman protagonist with plenty of green views on ‘returning to nature’ with the calming influence of aloe vera and hope for the future…
Green pass to non-conformity
Back to yesterday… The melodious interlude ceases, and a ring heralds the obligation to conform. Another ring and non-conformity initiates a parental alert. Armed with a teacher's pass, I skillfully dodged the threat of parental communication about my misplaced car. Upon entering, a familiar face in a picture greeted me – the safeguarding officer, a cherished acquaintance from a previous stint at a different school.
“I am safe, I have my guardian here,” I thought, having no fears. Later, known from elsewhere Mr. Singh appeared, engaging with students, and evoking a nostalgic smile. It seemed I was a walking encyclopedia of familiar faces in unfamiliar surroundings.
Blue is a colour often found in nature, such as the pale blue of a daytime sky or the rich dark blue of a deep pool of water. This is perhaps why we often describe blue as calm and serene. Yet, as a cool colour, blue can sometimes seem icy, distant, or even cold.
Because blue is favoured by so many people, it is often viewed as a non-threatening colour that can seem conservative and traditional.
Blue calls to mind feelings of calmness and relaxation. It is often described as peaceful, tranquil, secure, and orderly.
Blue is seen as a sign of stability and reliability. Businesses that want to project an image of security often utilise blue in their advertising and marketing efforts.
Blue can also create feelings of sadness or aloofness. Consider how a painting that heavily features blue, such as those produced by Picasso during his "blue period," can seem lonely, sad, or forlorn.
Blue is often used to decorate offices because research has shown that people are more productive and creative when working in blue rooms.
Blue is one of the most popular colours, but it is also one of the least appetising.
During the break, I became the subject of student whispers – the mysterious newcomer inspiring the burning question, "Who is she?" Seeking refuge in a sanctuary of calmness, I walked into the library…
Library– my literary haven reminiscent of a thiamine-fueled squirrel's excitement. Two ladies promptly attended to me, offering coffee and tea. The last time I recalled such hospitality was during an interview at another well-organized school, where the allure of a staff-accessible swimming pool and unlimited caffeine tempted my professional resolve not to go against my work principles.
Here, as the ladies inquired about sugar and milk, I quipped, "No sugar, I'm sweet enough," with Kermit’s smile and resisted the urge to comment on the colour of my milky skin, realising the potential misinterpretation by a coffee-skinned lady offering the utterly skimmed cow’s goodness. I don’t go to courts unless there is a parking issue; maybe you know the story. I took pleasure in delivering a speech to a heartless 'parking eye’ guy in front of a female judge who took off all requested fees of me, following my story of early motherhood parking for the first time at a swimming pool with her screaming baby. No compromises.
And then… the book that beckoned me from the shelves – "My Name Is Mina” by David Almond. A literary gem that resonated with me on a profound level. Mina, a character as distant from Absolutely Typical as a platypus is from a giraffe.
Her unapologetic embrace of individuality became my muse, prompting me to reflect on the times when I wished I was a boy so I could spend all the time with the boys. I grew up, and I became unapologetic for my feminity.
Why settle for being Absolutely Typical when one can be Absolutely Yourself? So, here's to contemplating spontaneous tree climbs with boys and revelling in the unapologetic embrace of our true, quirky selves – the secret to genuine fulfilment and avoiding the typicality trap.
Be bold. Be yourself, no one else is better qualified.
Now, an empty page. Look closely at the emptiness. This is quite easy and quite delightful.
And if you’ve never gone as far as nowhere, find a middle ground and go to the middle of nowhere.
Back to Anna's, sorry Mina’s inquiries about the starry sky, the underworld ... Her fearless embrace of individuality, unfased by the constraints imposed by others or the judgments of others, including “the parking” eye, struck a chord. Mina, my literary kindred spirit, radiates tranquility derived from self-acceptance – a sentiment I found myself reflecting upon. Perhaps, I mused, a bit more tree-climbing and a touch less concern for the opinions of those who have never summoned Persephone might be the key to a more fulfilling existence.
Don’t underestimate 12-year-old book characters. They might give you a tip on some extraordinary activities. Try those and tell me how it felt:
After all, isn't the secret to genuine fulfilment rooted in the unapologetic embrace of our true selves? Begin with emptiness!
Ps: The answer to the riddle at the beginning is of course: The future!
Do not fear the unknown!
Be bold
Be alone
Stare at emptiness with confidence
Do it today!
So as someone you know said yesterday:
“Tomorrow is a bonus day. Use today.
Wear your head on your shoulders and March!”
If you consider yourself as a child, and you should if you don’t want to lose all the joy by becoming too serious about everything, as certain adults do, be alone, be still, be silent!
ENJOY YOUR TODAY!
Mammarella N, Di Domenico A, Palumbo R, Fairfield B. When green is positive and red is negative: Aging and the influence of colour on emotional memories.