Touching the Buttons
You Wrote Back
I read every comment that you send. Substack offers the possibility of direct, unmediated relationships between readers and writers. We can be closely connected despite the fact the platform tells me that you, dear readers, are in 9 different countries.
Following last week’s post, Light and Colour: Mood and Mind, many of you wrote interesting comments that have made me stop and think.
Sonia Kurtz, in Toronto, ever-so-gently slapped my wrists. Of course the global north isn’t all grey, brown, and drab. How could I have forgotten those rainbow houses in St. John’s, Newfoundland? They’re in the delectable “Jellybean District”.
Jellybean District, St John's https://unsplash.com/@jcgellidon
On the other hand, Sido Surkis in Portland, Oregon wrote, “Thank you from one who is staring at grey right now!” And Ann Moran wrote from Toronto: “You touch the buttons of your friends who’ve just had about 3.5 months of the darkest days in our memory.”
Manuela Thiess Garcia, a photographer in Mexico, liked the idea of re-painting drab structures as an antidote to gloomy days.
Why so stingy with colour?
From Amy Gilbert in Vancouver: “I so agree. Did you see the documentary on (former Supreme Court Justice) Rosie Abella? There is a woman who understands the importance of color in our lives. My children’s generation allow themselves only a ‘splash’ of color in their interior decor. Why be so stingy with it?”
Elizabeth Warren wrote that colour stinginess applies “to winter clothing as well. How I would love to buy something for winter that is neither grey, navy or black.”
And this comment from Laurie Gough, an award-winning author of memoir and literary travel books: “It seems that Mexicans have much more of a celebratory culture and mindset than we do in North America and their vibrant colors reflect this lust for life. Just when one festival or holiday finishes in Mexico, another begins. Maybe we’re too stuck in our historical Protestant work ethic?
“Maybe such a flagrant display of unabashed color and constant festivities would be too much ‘fun’ for us? I would love to hear theories in some of these comments because what Peter has brought up is fascinating.”
I’m intrigued by Laurie’s questions. Are we culturally mired in a work ethic that dislikes unabashed color? That spurns it as “too much fun”? Compared to other cultures, might we—I shudder to think this—even be lacking in lust for life?
However, some of you suggested that the muted, neutral palette in the north is nothing more than a natural expression of harmony with the often-greyer skies.
Regardless of theories, in your comments on Light and Colour: Mood and Mind you were all ready to sign up for brighter colours, brighter moods. Lisa of Vancouver Island wrote of the “many, many reasons we come to Guanajuato: colors, sunshine, culture and so much more.” Donna from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan described Mexico’s “joyous spirit, colour and language.”
And May Morpaw wrote from Ottawa: “I too have long loved the colours of Mexican places and especially Guanajuato. They do brighten our moods. The ceramics on the outside of buildings in Portugal lift my spirits in a similar way.”
Disapproving stares
Laurie, Elizabeth, and Manuela weren’t the only ones to weigh in about our society’s dislike of cheerful, unabashed colour. Avis Picton, a physician, wrote: “I remember seeing patients from India and Africa dressed in bright colours and envying them, really envying them, as I hated wearing dull colours, but always got raised eyebrows or comments from people when I wore, say, fuchsia. I saw a dark-skinned woman on the bus one day in a bouffant purple dress trimmed with gold, and I could tell she was aware that people were giving her disapproving stares.”
“I wish I had told her how beautiful she looked and not to change herself into a drab mass of navy, beige, or grey. But I suspect she did.”
“A different world”
Dvora Oreg, a veteran Israeli peace activist, commented from Tel Aviv: “The colours are wonderful, and it's fun that you have the opportunity to engage in this. It must be a great pleasure. But these days, as you know, we are ‘in a different world’. We are waiting breathlessly for our kidnapped, innocent, hostages to return from captivity. And for children to stop dying in Gaza and the West Bank. And for our young soldiers to stop dying. Enough!!”
Whether light-hearted or bleak, I value your comments. Dvora reminds us that while we’re happily indulging in our musings, there is a world in pain around us. Yet I contend that whimsy is part of a full, rich life.
So I end with a wish that those children, those kidnapped hostages, and the innocents everywhere, on all sides of war, may once again enjoy the light and colour that peace can bring back into their lives.
And to the leaders, drivers of these conflicts: may your eyes be opened to the light, now.
PS Thank you for reading Musings on Medicine and More, and for your thoughts. You can see comments for all the posts in the archive.
a pleasure to read these comments so nicely woven together for us…
Keep wishing… I just came from two weeks in that scorched 🥵 country literally and not. When good people will stop killing each other over land is about the same time the sun will explode and let the earth 🌍 die its natural death. I long for peace and yet, it’s so elusive. Perhaps easier to paint my hair purple and just focus on the colors and beauty that surrounds us.