Today is the International Day of Friendship. I wanted to highlight this because since March 2020, it has not been easy having get-togethers with friends and family from other households. We’ve stayed away from each other because we care about each other. All of us who are living with this pandemic can understand the paradoxical nature of the previous statement. There have been many channels to meet virtually and those meetings took, or still take, some getting used to. We are all at the mercy of our internet connections. More important, grainy pixels in a flat screen cannot begin to emulate the encompassing warmth of presence. But I err on the side of optimism, and believe that these times too will pass, and we will be back in each other’s company to bask in the glow of friendship.
The Colors of Friendship
Take time to think about your friends and be thankful for having them in your life. Maybe you can also think about what color each friend is.
White | VP-706 Tulle White
White symbolizes goodness and sincerity. We trust that our friends have our best interests at heart, just like we have theirs. We also trust that we can speak the truth to those we hold dear, and expect that they do the same with us. Friendship lives the spirit of the Sanskrit greeting Namaste which means “The God in me recognizes the God in you” or “The Divinity within me perceives and adores the Divinity within you.“ There is such a freedom in a friendship because we can count on the genuineness and honesty in the relationship. If we cannot express our truths to one another, how can we grow?
Photo by Alberto Zanetti on Unsplash
Pink | BCP-1077 Lady Anne
Pink symbolizes affection and understanding. Affection is a fondness we feel for friends—that we want to be with them, talk to them, and do things together. In their presence, life becomes brighter and fuller. This feeling comes from a deep knowing that everyone’s welfare is a priority. We have each other’s backs. We hold space for each other by being physically, mentally, emotionally present for one another, willing to use understanding instead of judgment.
Photo by John Jason on Unsplash
Purple | BCP-1184 Graceful Garden
Pale purple stands for kindness and compassion. We soften when we are with friends, willing to bring down the masks to show the raw, dark secrets that we tend to hide from strangers and acquaintances. It is because we know that whatever gloomy, sad, and ugly skeletons we hide in our closets, their power is dissipated when they are shown under a loving gaze. Friends always give the benefit of the doubt, and if we can’t, then we can always trust that the relationship is strong enough to be able to talk about difficult things, to stay at opposite sides of the matter at hand, yet still be able to keep the bond.
Photo by Al Pangestu on Unsplash
Green | BCP-0773 Glass Bottle
Green represents harmony and growth. Plants need sunlight, air, nutrients, moisture, and the proper temperature to grow. Any plant lover worth his salt would know this. People too need nurturing in order to grow well and be healthy. Harmonious relationships make us thrive. Those rife with conflict create a lot of stress that stunt our growth. An unsafe environment triggers the fight-or-flight response, which when repeated over time could cause psychological and physical trauma. Being with friends who care about our welfare can nurture our growth. And when we find ourselves in stress situations, it is a gift to be able to call a friend who will listen and help us process the problems in life that we encounter.
Photo by Robert Collins on Unsplash
Blue | BCP-0646 Key West Zenith
Blue is for trust and loyalty. Trust is such a fragile thing that can only be earned and built as the years pass. Stieg Larson in his book The Girl With A Dragon Tattoo wrote, “Friendship- my definition- is built on two things. Respect and trust. Both elements have to be there. And it has to be mutual. You can have respect for someone, but if you don’t have trust, the friendship will crumble.”
With trust, loyalty follows. It is the ability of friends to stick to each other in good times and in bad times. Having friends who are loyal to us is a very precious thing. They will warn us of danger, protect us, and keep us from harm.
Photo by Thuận Minh on Unsplash
Yellow | BCP-0851 Happy Face
Yellow is for warmth and energy. There is a beautiful vibe that surrounds friends when we are together. It is inviting, cozy, and very comfortable, like an old blanket that may be worn and threadbare but still provides warmth through the years. Whether we go out to a posh place (not possible due to the quarantine), or fly off to exotic places on budget trips (still not possible), or sit on rickety chairs at the back of someone’s house to drink beer (also not possible)…wait…wait… Take 2. Whether we exchange messages that are mangled beyond coherence because of spell check or thick fingers, or we have a get-together for cocktail hour on Zoom while we’re all in our lounge wear (a.k.a. daster), or we watch a film together from our respective living rooms, the warmth and energy of the friendship shared still permeate and cocoon everyone despite the distance between us.
Photo by Yunming Wang on Unsplash
Orange | BCP-0976 Cocktail Hour
Orange symbolizes happiness and cheer. The hum and zing of a beautiful friendship provides the zest for life. It makes us look forward to each day, and brings a smile to our hearts as we gratefully put the day to rest each night. Enthusiasm and enjoyment are gifts we get from the presence of true friends in our lives. There is no denying the healing power of fun and laughter. Although friendships do not preclude sadness and suffering, friends do alleviate the weight of burdens we carry. They are the catalyst to helping us see that the glass is half full
Photo by Chang Duong on Unsplash
Red | BCP-1095 Empower
Red stands for love and passion, and these are what friendships embody. We feel a platonic love for people whom we have a spiritual connection with. The Greek word for this kind of love is philia, a shared goodwill and affection between people with similar values, or a shared passion. Trustworthy and dependable, friends like these are those we would want to have around as we grow older. Lucky are those who have life companions, where friendships remain steadfast through the years.
Don’t despair. We all will have the opportunity to meet up with our buddies in the future, up close and personal. At the moment, let us keep the physical distance between us so that we all stay safe.
Photo by DIAO DARIUS on Unsplash
How to Choose Your Color from These Hues
Have you thought about your friends and what colors would fit them? In your next repainting session, maybe you’d like to celebrate your friends by using their colors in your home. You don’t have to use the exact colors. You can vary the shade by going lighter or darker.
I have received questions from readers asking for color recommendations for their home exteriors or interiors. I tell them that color selection is very personal. All we can do at Let it B is to give color inspirations, and we have a lot of those. Just click on the Color Inspirations category that you will find in the menu at the top of the blog.
As a general guide, read about these three paint palettes—pastels, bright colors, and intense hues. Make that your starting point. You can also go white, which is very trendy nowadays. The Boysen Tulle White is an all-time favorite.
When you’re ready, go to any Boysen Mix and Match Station, check again the color you want using the Boysen fandeck, then get your paint.
Let me leave you with this quote:
“A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.”
– William Shakespeare
Happy Friendship Day, Homies!