Try adding some bright
I love the brightly-colored homes of Mykonos, Greece! 2008
“Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors…” — Allen Klein
I appreciate people who take the time to add color to everyday life. Some people plant bright annuals that bloom in spring and summer, others use cheery linens or dishes, still others wear vivid clothing and accessories. I find that colors really do lift my mood, so I try to take my eyes and thoughts to sunny places, even when the day is gray and dull. Whether you add color in outward ways, or simply embrace and appreciate the colors others add to your life, I hope today will be a bright one for you.
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- Tagged: artistry, color, enthusiasm, fashion, flowers, gardening, home decor, joy, moods, optimism
Defeat Despair 
And you are adding color to me too! 🙂
Sydney, thanks so much! It’s always wonderful to hear that others enjoy my efforts. I appreciate your visits here!
Is okay! You actually add more color to me than I do! 🙂
🙂
I love this quote! You are definitely a bright color in the crayon box in many lives!
Thank you! I appreciate your kind words. I love the idea of being a bright color!
Thank you. I, too, love colors. I need them especially on gray and dull days – greens, purple, yellow, magentas, reds, cobalt blues, etc. Isn’t God wonderful to build into us the ability to see color!
Victoria, I agree! God is the ultimate artist. I often marvel at the many colors he created even far under the sea, where people were not even aware of them until undersea exploration began. Color is one of the great blessings of life, I think. Thanks for visiting here!
Just a reminder that your idea has been applied to aircraft livery at Braniff Airlines, circa 1980. This link gives examples of what they called a “Splash of Color”:
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5211604/
Eric, yes! I remember how Daddy used to call them “Braniff Easter Eggs.” There was a time when he occasionally flew those planes, I believe, while Eastern was sharing routes with Braniff. In many ways, those were “the good old days” of commercial aviation.
and why are you awake at 3 am? Can you not sleep or is it JD? JD is what we called him in high school. I think he became JR at college. Did you know that? He was always neat as a pin and careful when he chose his words. I believe his sweet mama made them walk the line. You guys use your sparkle fingers today. It is Dr Seuss Birthday at schools : )
Alice, rest assured we are NOT up at 3 a.m.! My posts are on a timer to be posted at that time each day. This is so that I will keep the same date for the West Coast readers, yet also be available earlier in the day for the many wonderful Asian readers who visit my blog. Jeff was called “JD” at college too. Early in our relationship (before we were really dating) I called him “Jeff” and he noted that he liked for me to do that. So he’s been “Jeff” to me ever since, and I believe when he left Lipscomb for dental school, he kept that as his preferred name. I think Randy Daugherty may have originated the “JD” although I’m not sure. Jeff’s Mama is still sweet and knows how to be firm when needed, but with kindness, a great combination! Dr. Seuss Birthday today? Wish I had known; I would have done a post in his honor. What a wonderful legacy he left for us. I think of you now whenever I see sparkly things! Thanks for visiting us here!
Actually, Dr. Seuss’s birthday is tomorrow (2nd), but since it falls on a Saturday this year schools are doing Dr. Seuss today….AND next week for that matter (READ ACROSS AMERICA!). I just got through reading The Cat In The Hat to my afterschool students! Easy for me to remember since George shares his birthday! Isn’t that neat…same birthday as Dr. Seuss!!
Oh dear! What a shame! I forgot George’s day!
NOW what will he think of me? What will he say?
He may think I’m angry, or all in a muddle!
He may think I dropped his card in a mud puddle!
He may think I’m all depressed, mean or unpleasant
He may think I’m too cheap to send him a present
But the truth is, I’m not mad or crazy or cold,
The truth is, like George, I AM GETTING QUITE OLD!!!
(apologies to Dr. Seuss, but no one has been the subject of so many bad parodies). Please tell George we’re sorry we forgot his birthday! 🙂
Well, there is Ernest Hemingway!
Rene, you are right. I forgot about him. He is often imitated. Never duplicated. 🙂 not even here, hee-hee
Here in Seattle the grays are sometimes overpowering and are a major contributor to SAD- seasonal affective disorder, which can be quite debillitating. Plants with yellow tones like the Hybrid Oregon grapes are great in winter. These tall hybrids also bloom in winter and are hummingbird magnets. Also, we have some nice magenta primroses on the deck that are hanging in there with the winter pansies which are looking kind of beat up after last weeks wind storm.
I would love to go to Greece; also on my list.
Please keep daughter in law Rachel in prayer as she is fighting a cold and is due on the 20th of this month.
Mike, as always I love reading about your flowers. Jeff and I would have loved to have a tour near Seattle, but I was afraid to go there because I think I’d get SAD in a major way. Ditto England. We’ve been blessed to have a string of assignments that reads like a sunshine state roll call: California, Hawaii, Texas, California. Thanks for letting us know about Rachel; I will pray for her and encourage all who read this comment to do the same. SO you and I will both be grandparents this year! Keep us posted on the new arrival. Thanks for visiting.
Great timing for your post… Came in handy today, just now!
That makes me feel so happy! Thanks for letting me know! I appreciate your visits here.
Julia, such an interesting post as I recall so many 8 packs of new crayons growing up. Of course the Crayola 64 box came later as the ultimate! So many colors made for so many beautiful pictures to create. As adults,we can create a colorful life to enjoy. You have made my days so much brighter in recent weeks.You’re definitely a sunny yellow! Sheila
Sheila, that is such a wonderful thing to say, sunny yellow! For years, yellow was my favorite color (I have many favorites now!) and my mother decorated my bedroom beautifully in bright yellow tones. It was like instant sunshine, I wish I had more photos of it. I remember longing for the 64-crayon box; in elementary school they would give us only the big fat 8-packs! I don’t think I ever owned a 64-pack. I also love the colorful picture books today’s children enjoy; in my childhood, even the Caldecott Medal winners were 2-color (Blueberries for Sal, for example). Thanks for your kind words about the blog, and for being here.
I couldn’t help but think of The Rainbow Fish! Ernest Borgnine reads it beautifully on YouTube StorylineOnline. I have loved reading that to our six grandchildren over the years. Hope all is well with you and your family! Sheila
Sheila, thanks for reminding me about Rainbow Fish! A beautiful story. I’ll have to find the online video of Ernest Borgnine reading it. I met him years ago at the Miss USA pageant where my college roommate was competing. Borgnine was one of the judges, and unlike some of the celebrities there (I won’t mention any names except to say one of their first names was Englebert :-)), EB was very gracious, friendly, took the time to sign autographs and gave everyone a lovely smile. Six grandchildren, what a blessing! So happy you are reading to them. No better investment of time; a gift that keeps on giving.
I’m always torn between bright cherry colours of the 50’s and the soft hues of the beach. I try my best to mix them together. I find that if I combine stuff I really love, whether it’s a vintage chenille bed spread or a modern glass lamp, it all works out in the end. I love that front entrance of that home in Greece.
Hey I think you just pinpointed what it is I love about your crafts. The mixture of soft hues with bright ones. I’ll start trying to do that. I pretty much never sawa color I didn’t like, although some combinations are less appealing to me than others. I do like to mix and combine things, whether they be flavors, colors, or ideas!
Julia, I had to add one more note when I received this email today regarding crayons.
We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors……but they all exist very nicely in the same box. I just love that! Sheila
Sheila, that fits perfectly with today’s quote, doesn’t it? Thanks for sharing it with us!
What a coincidence! Today was the one of the ‘brightest’ days at my workplace (school). We honoured our top scorers (curricular and non-curr) in the presence of their mothers. Teachers wore their best (here we are always in the black purdah). I am all set, rejuvenated for the new acad. year.
Just wanted to share how ‘bright’ my day was. The picture fills me with joy.
Thank you Bindu! I enjoyed reading about your bright day at school and I’m so happy to learn you are feeling rejuvenated, as you enthusiasm will benefit so many others. I am very glad you liked the photo. I too feel happy when I see it. Thanks for being here.
I had exactly the same feeling when I was there. Loved Greece 🙂
Isn’t it wonderful? The white is so dazzling in the sunshine there, and the bright doors and shutters are so cheerful. I hope someday to go back, and this time I want to see Santorini and maybe some of the other islands. Welcome to my blog, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for visiting.
I enjoyed my time here and think your blog has a lot of happy stories! Greece…everything blue and white, the sea, the islands. Is an amazing country. I had the chance to be in Santorini, beautiful! http://duranvirginia.wordpress.com/?s=greece&submit=Search
Thanks for the link, and for visiting my blog. You have beautiful photos of Santorini! Definitely on my “place to go” list.