​ ​ COLOUR

Colour

When you hear, see or perceive the word 'colour', what comes to mind? For some, like me, colour is what we see which for instance nature and landscapes. For another, it might be a people of a particular race. For others, colour would be what is perceived; like the creative nature and light that lies within every human being, that elicits a sense of purpose when activated.

Research suggests that colour is determinant of human behaviour and could influence perceptions that are not obvious such as taste. Colour also evokes powerful emotions, as different shades carry different meanings for different individuals.

I grew up in a small country town, surrounded by nature. Every morning I would wake up at the break of dawn and get ready to go to school. The yellow sun rays peeping through the window would always feel as if they were whispering a soft 'good morning' to me.

After a somewhat rushed preparation, I would usually catch a quick breakfast and then start my walk to school. On my way out to the gate, I would always stop to see how my little garden was doing, that I very religiously looked after. I would then make my way to school, which was a long walk but a very interesting one.

Some days it would rain, other days it would be sunny, while others still it would be cloudy. The one thing that remained constant was my perspective. I would enjoy the dew on the green grass during cold winter mornings. When it rained, I would enjoy sliding, in what would be my version of 'skating' on the dark brown mud (something that would always aggravate my dear mother thanks to the mess on clothes). Better still, during summer, I would to watch the birds- some of which had striking coloured feathers fill the air with their beautiful melodies. I would stare in awe at the blooming flowers that added so much colour to my world, never miss a moment to smell the roses. Every now and then, I would discover the different types of leaves, some of which would collapse on touch!

In the evenings, I'd occassionally be found sitting next to a stream watching the tiny schools of fish as they seemingly moved in a fascinating rhythm all while I basked under the beautiful sunsets.

During the weekends, I would spend my time knitting, most of which I learned from school, and also watching my grandmothers. I was fascinated by the different colour threads, that even if so different would always result in a beautiful knit wear. I was also very fond of climbing trees and picking fruit that was in season.

Fast forward, I have now grown; moved towns, cities, countries, and even continents. My exposure has grown, and so has my perspective. One thing that has not changed, is my fascination with colour! Almost a decade ago, I decided to take on a big step, by relocating from my country of birth overseas to a new country. This new place which I now call home came with it's set of surprises. Here, I got to meet people from all walks of life. What had been my 'normal' was disrupted to something else. I had to adjust my fear of what I could have potentially perceived as 'the other'. I came across the majority of different race, people who had a different culture, but governed by the universal language of tolerance and respect for all. I saw the colour and acknowledged that it was beautiful (as my mentor would say), and then everything seemed to fall into place.

With my new home, I experienced the beauty of nature in it's most raw untapped form. Sea green beaches, nature trails, pink lakes, caves, some of the most fascinating creatures so native that would not be found in any other parts of the world, just to name a few!

One scholar said and I quote, "Some see where others look".

As I grow older, 'busy' happens and suddenly everything could easily become a blur. With the weight of responsibilities and a 'To-do-list', how many times do we step back to wander and catch a glimpse of the wonder that's wrapped around us?

Sometimes this would mean silencing the inner noise and resting in the colours that are within us. For me, it would mean closing my eyes, and letting myself plug into the colours that have taken my breath away over the time. Other times, it would mean looking beyond what's within the near sight, and seeing different outlooks in a situation and responding from a well balanced perspective. In other seasons, it will mean physically unplugging ourselves from the usual and going to a place that enables refreshment of the soul.

And just like the rainbow spectrum, the colours in our lives should bring an inner awakening that makes us smile, connect, and even laugh from the belly.