Colors are more important, than we thought.
Have you ever noticed when the sun is brightly shining you genuinely feel internally excited and happy? Or do you notice that you feel sad when its raining and gloomy outside? One reason for those feelings are a disease called seasonal effective disorder also known as “S.A.D.”

According to Mayoclinic.com, Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons. It begins and ends at about the same times every year. For those who have it, symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months. The disorder makes people feel drained or moody. Treatment for SAD may include light therapy, psychotherapy and medications.

Most people like me, need to get away to a tropical island after winter; because the darkness and cold weather takes a toll on the mind and body. Seeing refreshingly blue water, brown sand, green trees and a yellow sun are the perfect medicine.

Colors are very powerful, they are used to display feelings and emotions in movies, commercials and even print ads. One specific color is white, in advertising, it is associated with coolness and cleanliness because it’s the color of snow. Also you can use white to suggest simplicity in high-tech products. I also noticed that White is often affiliated with hospitals, doctors, and sterility.

In my Understanding Movies course, Professor Steven Derosa taught my classmates and i that colors are extremely important in film. We were shown examples like the movie Goodfellas or American Psycho which featured the color red whenever a character was bad or something atrociously scary was about to happen. Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is often associated with energy, war, danger, passion, determination as well desire, and love. It is a very emotionally intense color. And according to resources.oncourse.com, it enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure.

The color red is very alerting, which is why stop signs, stoplights, and fire equipment are usually painted red. It shows a sign of urgency and importance.

I never knew how much of an impact colors have on my every day life. I could not understand why I clung to certain colors during certain seasons of my life, whether it was my wardrobe, lip stick colors or nail polish. 3 years ago, I would constantly get white nail polish painted on my fingers and toes. Sometimes i would add gold and silver sparkles but most of the time, I just painted them the color white.

As I was researching I found out that White means safety, purity, and cleanliness. White can represent a successful beginning and for me it meant that each day my life was a blank canvas; ready to soak up the amazing things that are thrown my way.

However for the past year i have been getting a neon yellow color on my nails, back to back. Something about it makes me feel good and makes me feel free. I recently found out that yellow is associated with intellect, freshness, and joy and Gold evokes the feeling of prestige. The meaning of gold is illumination, wisdom, and wealth. It often symbolizes high quality.

I always noticed how whenever i would see someone who describes themselves as depressed or Gothic they usually wear black clothing or nail polish. Although the color black represents elegance, unity, and strength; it also can represent death, evil and mystery. Many things in life associated with the color black, have a negative connotation. People often say “black Cats are bad luck” or if someone is no longer accepted or wanted, they are “blacklisted” The fact that many Americans still carry the tradition to wear black to funerals, say a lot about the power of color as well. Black is and will always remain classic, whether it is on a car or demonstrated with the “Little black dress”.

According to empoweryourselfwithcolor.com, “Color is a form of non verbal communication. Its meaning can change from one day to the next with any individual. It all depends on what energy they are expressing at that point in time”.

Whenever my mother is going to an important event or is feeling ready to take on her day, she wears burnt orange. She calls it her “power color”, and that it gives her the energy and positive vibes she needs to accomplish anything she sets out too. Orange is symbolic of strength and endurance. it is mixed with the energy of red and the excitement of yellow. It is associated with joy and sunshine.

I have learned that Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation. Also the color orange supposedly increases oxygen supply to the brain, produces an revitalizing effect, and stimulates mental activity. The fact that a simple decision to wear a certain color, has more meaning than we think is incredible.

Another one of my favorite colors are green, which is associated with safety, money which to some people means power and it is very soothing to look at. Green is great for healing. It is the most restful color for human eyes and is said to improve vision. For me green means stability and peace. Although it can be associated with jealousy and envy.

No matter what color an individual puts on, it all comes down to how that person feels. Positive colors only reflect off of the positivity one already produces.