50+ Lifestyles

The Color Green

By Mary Schricker Gemberling

“Nature always wears the color of the spirit”
             … Ralph Waldo Emerson

What a beautiful 70 degree summer morning! As I sit here enjoying my coffee on the screen porch, I watch the birds flitter around the feeders and marvel at the blooming bushes and flowers, not yet scorched by the summer heat. A feeling of calm comes over me in this favorite place of mine. The years since we sold our log home in the Illinois countryside have been a bit tumultuous, but we are finally settled again in a house out in Blue Grass, not far from where I raised my sons. I did not realize how much I had missed having a yard full of green grass and flowers.

I love the color green and am surrounded by it both indoors and out. In addition to adding house plants to our indoor decor, various shades of green can be found as accents throughout our home. Color psychology, which studies the influence of colors on human behavior and perception, suggests our mood can be impacted by colors, each supposedly having a unique effect based on an individual’s experiences and culture. Warm colors like red, orange, and yellow often evoke energy, excitement, and warmth, while cool colors like blue, green, and purple tend to promote calmness and relaxation. Green being in the center of the color spectrum, is often associated with balance, calmness and relaxation. This is why people sometimes bring plants into their homes and offices to create a sense of overall well being. In the Bible, green pastures are often used as a metaphor for divine care, provision, and nourishment representing comfort and rest.

The color green can promote positive feelings such as hope, optimism, abundance & wealth. Green evokes a sense of life and vitality; it is the color of nature and growth and lush green grass. Interacting with nature and the outdoors has been shown to increase productivity. Yards can  be a place for family and friends to gather, encouraging social connections and a sense of community. Not only do our eyes want to see green, but our bodies sometimes want to feel green. The scent of fresh cut grass can call to mind happy memories of childhood summers. Gardening and yard work can provide exercise and physical activity, contributing to a healthier lifestyle.

It is interesting to know the effect of colors on our lives. It is a subject that I knew very little about until researching and writing this article. Color therapy, which builds upon the principles of color psychology is an alternative healing practice that explores the impact of color on human mood and well-being. Rooted in historical traditions, it has been studied since ancient times, with references in Egyptian and Hindu medical texts that suggest the use of colors to promote healing. Medical science today has not confirmed whether color will treat your physical ailments or help improve your mental health. However there is some evidence to back up the idea that color does have effects on our bodies  pain levels and our moods. I am not naive enough to think that this calmness I am feeling is totally because of  the color green, but I do know this beautiful yard surrounding me has something to do with my prevailing mood. Even though it comes with limitations as my aging body no longer allows me to garden and mow for hours, I can still enjoy a simpler version. We contract out the mowing and landscaping projects, and I tend to my flowers in pots and the raised garden beds of  vegetables and herbs. It’s just enough for me to handle and still sit and enjoy as I calmly sip my coffee or an occasional glass of wine. Such peace it brings, and who knew that it was even good for my health!

“Color is a power which directly influences the soul”
                                      …Wassily Kandinsky

Mary, a former educator and Seniors Real Estate Specialist, is the author of four books: The West End Kid, Labor of Love: My Personal Journey through the World of Caregiving, Hotel Blackhawk: A Century of Elegance, and Ebenezer United Methodist Church; 150 Years of Resiliency.