troubles with orange and green...

I've always been a fan of the colors orange and green. These aren't the only colors I like but they are certainly up there and in fact, I'm wearing an orange shirt right now as I write this post. Orange and green (separately) can be vibrant colors. They draw attention to themselves as well as their surroundings. Most of the time they make me feel pretty good about myself but the trouble is, lately I find that I have become somewhat overwhelmed by both if these colors to the point that (for me) they are creating an effect exactly opposite of the one that color experts say they should.

Take green for instance. What should come to mind when you think of this color? My thoughts immediately go to trees, grass and other things natural and peaceful (I also have a pretty great biking shirt that is bright green). According to people that profess to know about colors, green evokes harmony and understanding. "Green" people are generous, self controlled and adaptable as well as sympathetic and understanding. Green is my oldest sons favorite color however, (notwithstanding the fact that he doesn't really exhibit many of these "green" traits), my own recent experiences with green have made me question the claims of these so-called color experts.

I recently decided to become involved with an organization that, not surprisingly, has a lot of green in it. Color had nothing to do with my decision to get involved although there may have been some "green" influences behind this decision. Mostly I was interested in what they had to offer, I thought I could learn something from them that could help me later on ,(I still believe this) and in turn I thought that I might have something to give back to them (I still do). The trouble is that now, after only two meetings I have been faced with two conflicts between my impression of what green should be and the what the green that some of these "green" people actually paint themselves with truly is.

Rather than exuding the values of understanding, adaptability or harmony, I have left these green surroundings feeling as though I have been exposed more to to hostility, stubbornness and closed-mindedness. My recent green experience has taught me that the "big picture" is most important and that this picture can only look one way to be accepted. There is only one way to paint the picture and the steps to follow must be deliberate and very clear. Although the most prominent color in the picture is green, the big picture is a "paint by number". There is no room for individual interpretation as to the colors that each number represents. Green only recognizes the big picture and not the small steps that have been taken or that must be taken to get to it. According to green our efforts are often not good enough and the time it takes us to make them is never fast enough.

According to the color experts, the trouble with too much green is that it becomes too moralizing. It allows us (encourages us) to put ourselves up on a pedestal and ignore the multitude of other colors that are essential to making the picture complete.

And then there is orange...

I've always liked orange. If green is my sons favorite color, orange is mine. My Dad used to have a great orange car when I was growing up, I painted our basement orange and I probably have more orange shirts than I have shirts of any other color. Orange is exciting, the sun is orange, it is very difficult to be in a bad mood when your surrounded by orange. Or is it?

Orange makes us sporty (so the color experts say). Orange people are concerned about their health, they are full of joy and they are enthusiastic. Orange makes people constructive! How could anyone not want to be an orange person if these are the personality traits that you get to possess?

I live in a very orange community. While I fully admit to liking the color, I am surrounded by a lot of people that like orange a lot more than I do and probably for reasons a lot different than mine. Normally this doesn't bother me that much and I am still prone to wear my orange shirt from time to time but, every once in a while this over abundance of the sun's color rears an ugly head and on those days, things aren't so bright and shiny.

The trouble with too much orange?

According to our experts it can make us proud, destructive. Excess exposure to orange allows us to become too full of ourselves so that we begin making nasty messes with the expectation that someone else will clean them up for us. Orange can be especially dangerous when mixed with too much red as this makes us angry and inconsiderate. Orange mixed with too much yellow makes us difficult to live with.

My own recent orange experiences? Most mirror what the experts say. I've found that while orange has behaved true to its nature of drawing attention to itself, the color is not always qualified or experienced enough to deal with the kind of attention its seeking. Orange for me has become sanctimonious and in doing so, has dealt with current important issues by placing blame on all of the other colors. Orange is caught up in the moment, using its vibrancy to draw attention to whats on the surface, hoping people will overlook its lack of depth. Orange has no memory and it reminds me that even the brightest of stars fade eventually.

Finally, orange and green don't go too terribly well together. Think about it. Combine the two and what do you get?.... Besides a pumpkin!

Whats the point? There isn't one. I still like orange and green but I only wear them once in a while. Mostly I stick to primary colors like red and blue.