Yellow is the New Black

This bumblebee is harnessing the power of yellow.

I know this is kind of unusual, but I have been contemplating the meaning of Yellow lately. It’s not a color I normally gravitate to, either, so I have no explanation for this, other than I am noticing it a lot (welcome Spring flowers, perhaps?). As it is such a bright, cheerful color, my sudden fascination with yellow might be because I have been a little down in the dumps lately. I’ve been feeling low for no apparent reason; perhaps this melancholy mood is just a subtle reminder of the regular ups and downs of life. March just ended — it is the longest month in school (work for me) without vacation. (I’m spoiled, I know!) There are those days when just being plain old tired and worn out will bring me down.

There have been some personal stressors lately — some in my control, some not — and so I think my brain, being ever the defiant, kooky entity it is — has been actively scanning the environment for signs of optimism. Yellow is a glass half full color. Light-hearted and spry, it is the antidote for gloom and doom. It bounces off of the landscape and makes you smile. How can you not look at this color and feel better?

@thedahliagirl on Instagram knows her sunshine color. Can you spot the camouflage kitty?

Because I am proactive about self-care, at least most of the time, I try and nip the blues in the bud. Just admitting to myself that, “Hey, I’m feeling crappy today!” lessens the weight of it and is a step in the right direction. Then I might say to myself, “You know what to do!” or “Listen, dummy, get off the couch and stop feeling sorry for yourself!” or “Go eat something.”

True confession, I love comfort foods. I’ll admit it…food is a primal source of happiness for me. Some people turn to alcohol or legalized marijuana. Others might exercise a lot…humph! Pizza, mac and cheese or ice cream are my go to serotonin boosters. I think it’s hard wired into my Eastern European DNA and though I know it goes against EVERY weight maintenance principal I’ve ever read, there it is. Sue me. I have worked over the years, however, to keep a check on this penchant of mine. I can stop myself when I truly want to. What helps is if I figure out what I truly want, then enjoy it.

One of the best things I’ve done over the years is hone my ability to recognize when I feel “blah”. It is actually a skill, I believe, to feel it, accept it, and find a way through depression. What I’m referring to is a mild depression, however. Just a temporary feeling that might come and go like a cloudy day. (Major depression is a whole other being which can require therapy, medication, and more extensive treatment other than a serving of comfort food. Depression on that scale is serious and can be debilitating. )

Nonetheless, at those times when I’m feeling slightly off kilter, I know that it is important to address what’s bothering me. Sadness can be as sticky as glue and once it lodges in our consciousness it just stays stuck there. Ever have the same anxious thoughts over and over? Not me! (Hopefully no lie detector tests are in my future.) Unsticking those pesky thoughts is the first step to feeling better. Otherwise, the negativity can fester too long. Here are some ways I’ve discovered over the past six decades (!) that help me dust off the cobwebs when I’m a wee bit under the weather emotionally:

Journal — one of the BEST ways to release tension, anxiety and worries.
Walk — sometimes I have to force myself; but a breath of fresh air often clears the air, literally.
Pet my cats — Purrfect cuddle time with my animals.
Shower — water is therapeutic. There have been studies about it’s many qualities…too many for me to delve into. If you like singing in the shower, all the better. Some people prefer baths.
Comfort food — there it is. My sin. Hello, chocolate chip cookies. I try to take a small portion so I don’t go too crazy. This one goes hand in hand with cooking or baking. Paying attention to a recipe and enjoying the tasty end result is good for the soul.
A cocktail on the patio with Kevin — We love to sit outside and talk about life over a bourbon now and then. Epiphanies are welcome! Listening is imperative. Talking/venting/laughing with a loved one is never underrated.
Meditate — this one is a game changer. No kidding. Everyday I take some quiet time for myself to NOT think.
Watching a movie or show that you just know you’ll love. For me, anything British is a candidate for a blissful few hours.
Cleaning the house. I always feel better after this one. I assign myself the task of throwing out/donating 10 things I don’t need. It is fun to find stuff I don’t want or need anymore. It just makes what I want to keep extra special.
Plan an outing to someplace new or someplace I love. A change of scenery can turn me around pretty quickly. I particularly love a drive to the beach. (Tomorrow I’m driving to Malibu to have lunch with my son — that is a Win-Win!)
Retail therapy. Another decadent technique. A new shade of lipstick doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. I might add a stop for a cup of coffee…sit outside at the mall and people watch…you get the picture.
Music. Depending on my mood — but it could be anything from Beethoven to the Beatles (see below).
Gardening. Tending my plants brings me close to nature. Nature is great for repairing worn out nerves and putting stressors in perspective.
Reading, dancing, bird watching…the list goes on and on.

As I’ve written this, I actually feel better already! It’s April Fools day and the sun is shining. Next week I will be on Spring Break. Whoo hoo! Something I have realized is how when I’m feeling low I tend to retreat inwards. Because these past few weeks I have been spending more time meditating and taking time for myself, it has paid off. My internal batteries feel charged. Others, who might be extroverted, would find that they need to be with friends to feel better.

Thinking about Yellow, I remembered the old song, Mellow Yellow by Donovan. Here you go: