With Each New Day

A Mindset of Color

Perhaps my pair of favorite colors came from my inability to make a decision; perhaps, but not likely. I believe that the connection of the importance of these colors to my life can be made through the facet of mindset, or way of thinking. I think in black and white. Therefore, those are my favorite colors.

When I was a child, my favorite color was blue. My basketball uniforms were blue, as were my eyes, my house, and the family car. I distinctly remember feeling a sense of self-accomplishment in being able to adamantly state my favorite color. Then I was questioned on the topic, and forced to reconsider.

Nicole, my childhood friend, was a know-it-all who found solace in making me squirm. She would question my judgment incessantly on the topics of fashion, music, religion and, as it turns out, favorite color. As soon as I had stated that my favorite color was blue, she began to retort in typical fashion.

“Just blue? That’s it? Is it like sky blue or ocean blue or dolphin blue?” She, naturally, had expected a sudden answer. If the shocked look upon my face was any indicator, she should not have expected a hasty reply; my world had just been shaken. Being a girl of very certain and specific nature, this situation was an overload for my senses.

“Um, all of them…?” had been my desperate, insufficient answer. I had desperately hoped that it would suffice for Nicole, and that she would allow me to sleep on such a weighty decision and get back to her in the morning. Or, better yet, to just accept that a person could simply like the color blue. The thought was not to be born; she demanded I choose a more adequate answer. Now, it wasn’t that I was such a sensitive child whose only identity was found in her favorite color. No, this situation went deeper than that. It was traumatic because of the continuously arrogant, confrontational manner of my friend. In that moment I was experiencing the last straw of my patience. The last button had been pressed, and apathy was on its way out of my life.

From that conversation I gleaned the following life experience: standing up for what I believe in, no matter how trivial the belief, and making sure that I know my reasons for believing. As I am now a very outspoken person, my beliefs are questioned every day. Instead of giving a meek, befuddled answer to my critics, I can speak my heartfelt answer with equal frankness. I know what I believe, so watch out.

On that day, it was impressed upon me to do a childlike searching of my soul. Why did I say blue was my favorite color? I knew that if I were going to continue to give that answer, I would need to be prepared to give reasons, along with a specific shade that I had an affinity for. As a result of this bout of soul-searching, I deemed blue to be a lesser among my favorites. Instead, I decided that my favorite colors would forever be black and white. It is surprising, to some, that I feel so passionately about this topic. If one sits through my listing of reasons, however, they can be clearly seen.

I have an appreciation for writing, and the contrast of black ink on white paper. The written word testifies to the opinions and insights of individuals, which is of very high value and importance. Also, though it is not a happy event in history, the Civil War was based upon the contrasting of black and white. The horrible issue of slavery does not add to these being my favorite colors, but rather adds to the fact that they are, inarguably, important. In addition to the previous two reasons, I also appreciate the clean, definitive state of these two colors. When I tell someone my favorite colors, I can rest assured that they will not ask for specifics. Black and white… enough said.