And, we are launched into Summer! These are the weeks of high temps, long light, vacations. The season of color! Of green grass, peaches, iridescent bubbles, and sandy shores with fluffy high clouds. People are breaking out their bright cool clothing and favorite toys, big and small are in view! A child's pail and shovel, sidewalk chalk, or surfboard to catch some waves! And the flags will soon be flying to celebrate our nation’s independence with brilliant fireworks filling the night skies.
Colors can evoke memories of traditions and good times. For me it's:
-Of big parades and wearing my Girl Scout uniform, first brown then green, and marching with my sisters and friends. In later years, I would exchange my scout colors for my high school’s Orange and Blue. I proudly strode up the boulevard with my cheerleading squad.
- Of family sentiments. Our mom dressed us in red, white and blue every Memorial Day and Fourth of July (I confess that I still have a selection of clothes and jewelry to wear for both holidays.)
Colors can raise emotions and awareness:
Color and neurological responses have been researched. They can motivate us to eat, to purchase, and inform us. Restaurants know that a red tablecloth stimulates appetite. Our attention is drawn by a RED stop sign or to catch a big sale! The food industry has spent vast amounts to figure out what packaging colors cause us to pick up an item, versus not noticing it.
WHITE often symbolizes clean and sanitary, as hospitals and healthcare uniforms often suggest. BLUE, my favorite color, is a happy and calming color; i.e. blue skies, butterfly wings, the ocean. YELLOW and ORANGE are the recognized international road sign colors to signal caution. I chose to use orange every October for our Chiropractic awareness campaign- 'orange' you glad there's Chiropractic!
GREEN means Go!, or 'go' or eco-friendly. The Colors of sunsets or sunrises are awe inspiring, but to contrast, dark clouds, a green sky or red sky in the morning warns of ominous weather changes.
But..wait.. WHAT CAN COLOR TELL US ABOUT HEALTH?
Color can actually provides valuable health information.
We often equate Pink Rosy cheeks to be a sign of good health. Or, burning up Red with fever or infection means something altogether different. It means the body is working hard to restore balance with its own natural healing ability.
The sclera, aka Whites of our eyes, can change color to Red if irritated or to Yellow if the liver, gallbladder or pancreas is not functioning properly. Our complexion may turn Green or pale if the digestive process is challenged. Skin can react and turn Red if sunburned, or blotchy if exposed to an allergen. Blue on a nail bed, lips or skin demonstrates a lack of oxygen. Hair color changes to Silver or Gray over our decades of life. Get a bruise? A 'black and blue' shows where you've had a trauma to the blood vessels. It can to turn a lovely Purple then fades to muted tones as it heals.
Even proper elimination has normal ranges of hues. Yup - with changing diapers new parents get a big education there! Health and adapting definitely offers lots of information through the use of, increase and decrease of colors. Isn't life amazing?!
Colors of life and health are all around us, outside and inside us too. Color can give us information about ourselves, our environment and our well-being as well as bring emotions and sentimental memories. Staying well adjusted and subluxation-free, your nerve system will be open and ready to take in, reflect and enjoy all the vibrant colors of your life and health.
Happy Summer! Enjoy it all! And remember to take some time for yourself and color outside the lines!
See you on the tables!