When we are young we see everything as totally black and white.  Parents, nice teachers, best friends are accepted as perfect.  When later we find ourselves hurt or disappointed by one of them, we suddenly “see through them”, and see them as totally bad, often writing them off altogether. Maybe years later, we can come to terms with both their good and bad parts, accept them more in the round, seeing them more in terms of shades of grey.  Hopefully get back on good terms with them, even if only in memory.

Most of my life I have seen everyone in terms of black or white, baddies or goodies, until about ten years ago, I gradually realised everyone is a mixture.  So I’ve been seeing them as fifty shades of grey….   Hopefully that has made me more tolerant of people’s foibles, less judgemental.

However, now, today, I suddenly realise that people aren’t shades of grey, they are many-coloured, filled with every hue and shade of colour.  Different moods, different facets of them, different sides to them, different phases in their lives, these are all different colours.  Understanding people in colour instead of grey adds vibrancy to my experience of them.

People’s emotions are often described by colours; for example, purple with rage, green with envy, feeling blue, black moods, in the pink, etc etc.

So next time a friend is annoying you, or whatever, think of it in terms of a colour.  Bright orange —  very irritating.  Lime green — interested, enthusiastic.  Pink — up for a cuddle.  Brown — boring on.   Etc etc.  Well at least it will make  relationships with your friends and family a richer more colourful experience!!!

The above quilt by me, made few years back, is called Rainbow Sunset.  But it could be about my new way of seeing life.