I’ve always loved the concept of living in cities that portray seasonality. To me, it is fascinating to see how the natural cycles of life manage to align perfectly with the symbolism of weather. If you think about it there is a lesson in every season.
As of right now, we’re living through winter in Madrid — a season that is known for its cold weather, its unpredictable lows in temperatures, and its almost forceful way of pushing us to rest and reflect on how we want to start and pick up the new year.
This winter I made myself an important promise — Add a pop of color.
I’ve always enjoyed observing people who know (or appear to know) how to dress up stroll down the streets in unique, elegant, or extravagant creations. If my days in New York gave me one practice I’ve perfected to this day it is the art of people-watching. I’ll humbly say (lol) that I’ve gathered a lot of intel based on that.
I’ve gathered you can tell a lot about people by carefully observing the way they engage with others when they’re dressed in an attire that suits them. It fascinates me how something as vain as a wardrobe choice can come to be such a direct expression of someone’s personality but most importantly, their aura and confidence.
The story I tell myself when I see these people is that they are paving a road for us all solely by feeling comfortable in exploring and drawing outside the lines. It’s inspiring. It’s contagious. It’s bold. It’s daring. And it’s always colorful.
New York woke up this instinct within me, Madrid has gifted me with fertile soil to keep it alive.
Winter can be a very easy time to let yourself fall into monotonous patterns and I had to make sure I was not about to do that — outfit-wise or life-wise. So, this winter mostly through accessories my commitment began. Be it through wearing a beret, a beanie, a scarf, a vest, a sweater, or whatever… it had to add a pop of color.
Curating a look that suits your personality or mood for the day goes a longer way than what we think — it goes to prove that you’ve taken the time and thought to decide you are going to fully embrace your taste, your drive, and your ambition and express that a todo color.
Funny thing is, this has never been about whether if your outfit is cool or not. It has always been about the way our choices can help us shine a light on our insides.
I’m not trying to convince you to alter your wardrobe and start picking things out of your comfort zone if that is not your thing (although maybe that could work for you!). Color is a reminder to awaken and feed that part within us that yearns to express itself. Whether it be through dressing up, writing down, or talking around. Be it through simply wearing a vivid accessory on an outfit or through so. much. more.
Maybe it can be as simple as adding your favorite quirky sunglasses and colorful cap to your outfit. Maybe it can be through crafting the perfect playlist to put you in your own damn vibe. Maybe it can be through confidently embracing flirting your nights through bars. Or maybe it can be as easy as finally gathering up the courage to set your creative ideas in motion.
Color can mean anything you want it to mean. But what I am confident it will mean, independent of how you choose to express it, is that you’ve taken a decision to trust yourself in spicing up your life. Choose differently. Stand out. At the end of the day, the brush is in your hands.
The cost of not expressing who you are and what you want (when you feel within every ounce of your being that you want to do so) is missing out on the opportunity of being cherished for being exactly you. It’s missing out on allowing yourself to admire others for also being who they are. And it’s missing out on allowing yourself to create incredible opportunities in your life.
Color opens doors. Don’t let fear of expression close them.
So, today take a step towards adding color to your life. There are a million ways in which one can express and paint their own world. Let it be known that you have yours.
This winter I made myself the promise of adding more color to my life. Ironically, writing and publishing again turns out to be one of those ways I do so. Enjoy :)
Thanks for reading. Feels good to be back :)