The Color Orange

I got home tonight from a very long, very full day and took a blistering hot shower to try and melt away my stress. I left the house today around 12:30PM and have been running all over kingdom come and didn't get home until just a little bit ago- 7:30PM. Sierra went to two different parties today. On the way home, I just needed peace and quiet. Sierra wanted to listen to Adventures in Odyssey. I compromised and put in soft music. She complained several times it wasn't loud enough. All the while, I kept thinking "Why aren't you exhausted and stressed out by now too?!"

While in the shower, I spent time thinking about this little girl that, although I birthed her, is just so radically different from me. Socializing exhausts me. Socializing gets Sierra's adrenaline going and she feeds off it. She has no fear of riding galloping horses by herself. She loves any craft you put in front of her. She loves gymnastics. She loves choir and performing anything in front of anybody. She loves all animals- even bugs. She loves princess dresses and mud puddles. She never walks, but runs constantly. The list could go on and on and on. From very young, Sierra has LOVED the color orange. I HATE the color orange. Recently, I did a search to find what psychologists say regarding the color orange. One site said:

The most flamboyant color on the planet! It's the color tied most this fun times, happy and energetic days, warmth and organic products. It is also associated with ambition. There is nothing even remotely calm associated with this color. Orange is associated with a new dawn in attitude.

Yet another put it this way:

Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. From the softest peach and coral tints, to deep siennas and tawny umbers, orange is always friendly and welcoming. Orange lusts for life and its laughter is full-bodied. It is associated with joy, sunshine, the tropics, celebration, comfort, and enjoyment of the senses. It entices us with dancing flames of fire, flamboyant autumn leaves, shimmering goldfish. A laughing color…which stimulates appetite for the good things in life as well as a desire for abundance. Orange is the best emotional stimulant. Increases self-esteem and confidence and strengthens a sense of identity. Orange is the color of creativity, ambition and drive... stimulates creative thinking and enthusiasm, the willingness to embrace new ideas with enjoyment and a sense of exploration and creative play.

I also discovered orange is the contrast color of blue- my favorite color. And as I stood in that shower thinking about my baby girl, I thought about the pillow case we had made together just yesterday. We had gone to the store and she had been allowed to pick the fabric. This is what she chose:

I actually kind of like it. It is loud. It isn't at all what I would have picked. But after six years of her insisting on wearing and having orange things, I guess I am kind of getting a little used to it...and maybe even learning to see the pretty side of orange. And while I am still an introvert, and she will probably forever be an extrovert, I think she might slowly be having some success in teaching me about loving life as much as she does. I love everything about you, Sierra Girl. God has given you an AMAZING personality and outlook on life. I hope I can continue to learn from you.