I always disliked orange. It was a very bland color, lacking the sparkle of red or the shine of yellow. Orange paled against the cool hues of blue and purple or the freshness of green. It sat equally with the other colors in the color wheel but held no allure. It was just there.
So, I surprised myself this morning when I woke up and pulled a favorite springtime shirt out of the closet to wear. It is a hand-me-down from my mother, pale orange with a little white. I like it because it is comfortable and different from what I usually wear, and I have received many compliments on it. I got to thinking about the color orange and my prejudice against it.
It really does not harm. It exists in its own quiet solitude, doing its job without fanfare or accolade. It’s not boastful or brash. In its subdued state, it is my go-to color when creating a spreadsheet. I questioned myself as to why I had such disdain for it. Many wonderful things choose orange as their color of choice.
Think about all the wonderful, nutritious foods that sustain us: oranges, carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tangerines, persimmons, butternut squash, and apricots. I love bell peppers. Each one has a distinctive taste. The orange ones, in particular, are sweet like candy. Speaking of candy, how about orange jellybeans? If you prefer a combination, how about sweet and sour sauce?
Orange is also a color associated with safety. If you need to see a hazard ahead, orange is your color. Safety jackets and traffic cones gleam through rain or shine.
As you drive through my neighborhood in rural eastern Nebraska, you will see patches of bright orange daylilies between the road and the earthy tones of the fields. In the fall, the trees turn various colors from orangey-bronze to deep saffron. It is a hot summer sunset—beauty in nature.
For emotional health, you find no greater friend than the color orange. If you are down and want to bring out your inner strength, indulge in looking at the color orange. It is uplifting, offers security, and puts optimism in your mood. When darkness looms, orange reminds us that there is hope. Read more about the positive traits of orange.
I’m not the only person who has not appreciated orange. I run into others who can’t find a single use for orange. But they probably, like me, never really stopped to appreciate it. Orange has gotten a bum rap. It is undeserved.
Quiet confidence is much like the color orange. It goes about its purpose, making great strides with little fanfare. Its contributions are massive but undervalued. It’s not arrogant but understated. It stands its ground with firmness and tenacity. It has great energy but does not brag. Self-assured but humble, it represents true authenticity. Like the color orange, it has many wonderful qualities. It is a goal worth striving for.
I now understand that orange is quiet confidence.
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Copyright 2024, Monica Nelson
