Think Pink
Four-letter words are words constructed of four letters. They are perfectly good, usually innocent words. Some four-letter words come with baggage that weighs down their meaning. Often there is negativity, discomfort or stigma assigned to these words. As we reconsider these words and address them openly, perhaps we can redeem these words for their contribution to our lives!
We're okay with red, most of us. It speaks of passion: red roses, red lips, or red dresses. Red is the color of Christmas, Valentine's Day and summer strawberries. However, red is also the color of deficit – financial deficit. But above all red is the color of redemption. Christ's blood. Who doesn't like red?
White works for us too, with its sometimes gentle, sometimes glaring statement of purity: white, snowflakes, white swans, and white sheets, white for the good guys, white for the virgin. Except when we're not the good guys, not a virgin, and not – well, white. Strictly speaking, white is not a color, but the manifestation of the presence of color –the integration of all colors, the complete energy of light. It stands for wholeness and completion. Who doesn't like white? Red and white: good colors with good meanings.
Then, there's PINK.
Pink is the color that we either love or hate. Some of us prefer pink to any other color. We dress our rooms and cars in pink and carry pink (trimmed in leopard) accessories. Others steer completely clear of the hue of pink. After all, pink is not the color of leadership; it is not listed anywhere in the power color tips for women.
In between these extremes are those of us who “edit” pink into a more customized, palatable concoction: blush pink, pale pink, even shocking pink.
Then, of course, who could have a problem with breast cancer ribbon pink? What is behind this multifaceted reaction to pink? Why would such an innocent color elicit such responses: positive, negative and edited?
Is PINK a color or an attitude?
The problem with pink is the connotation it carries. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the color, but pink can say something that we may or may not be comfortable with. Perhaps pink says "feminine" and some like that, others don't. Not being ready to embrace the "femininity" proclaimed by the color we fight against pink because it was the first color assigned to us before we were born. We didn't choose pink. We have been defined and confined by pink.
Do we miss the point of pink? There is nothing girly weird about red or white. So, why do we assign a negative designation to their combination?
Pink: a blended color from red and white that takes on the qualities and characteristics of each color: red and white, strong and gentle, vivacious and modest, courageous and careful, confident and humble, fun and restful, spontaneous and intentional. Can PINK, the blend of red and white, be redeemed? Pink doesn't make us anything we're not already. Passion and Purity equals PINK. It is not a bad combination. Try it on.
See what you think of PINK.