I think we can extend this to our clothes! My husband remarked the other day that there was only one piece of black clothing in a sea of colour. In the past, I wore A LOT of black! Now I own a lot of dresses with patterns! And last week when I was on vacation with a friend, I bought a bright coloured dress!! Nothing like I would have ever bought! I am working through the fear are standing out and staying safe. Beige, black are colours that help to blend in...they also hide personality too!
Thanks for this thoughtful piece. I didn't realise I was on a journey to more colour and risk!!
It seems easier to be beige than bright but it’s worth the effort. I’m a planner but not afraid of change. I think we can be both, to great effect. Thanks for the thoughtful reminder to keep amping up our bright lights.
Mar 12·edited Mar 12Liked by Sunhats and Chardonnay
Thank you for mentioning me in such a beautifully written article. I was listening to a podcast earlier about showing up fully as yourself online and then I read your article. It got me thinking about easy it is to become beige and boring in how we show up on social media and around others because beige is easily digestible and likable... but its not vibrant and often not authentic.
-- I dated a guy who was a "Bay street" lawyer. I took his shirts to the laundry mat and noticed they were all white. I bought him a blue shirt and he never wore it... "Individuals who are prone to being boring often exhibit a profound fear of standing out from the crowd. They prefer to blend into the background, avoiding any actions or behaviors that might draw attention to themselves. This fear stems from a deep-seated concern about being perceived as different or unconventional by others."
I'm on a journey to not fade into invisibility and beigeness as I get older. So many women fade into the background and then complain about it to each other. I think it's up to us to shine and to find things that bring us joy. If we fill our world with the people and activities we love, that overflows and we stay vital and vibrant. It doesn't have to be a big effort - just lots of small intentions - and taking the responsibility on ourselves to keep our colours and not letting them fade.
Many of us in our fifties, sixties and older are of the age that we were taught to be seen and not heard. I think this has fueled this idea of complacency.
The younger generations have been taught to speak their mind (too freely sometimes) but I think they will not be Beige when they age, they will remain a vibrant hue.
I loved this post! Sometimes I feel like we're encouraged to put ourselves in silos or niches and downplay our quirks and yet it's the authentic whole that really makes us shine.
Yes, its like not wearing that fuchsia dress or short skirt because we are older. Just because we age, doesn't necessarily mean we need to be frumpy or mundane in our lifestyle. Sometimes, it takes an outsider to point out these changes as they can often occur so slowly that we do not notice them.
I intend to live out my life in bright colours and pretty patterns in all things!
And you will be a beacon for others to look up to!
I think we can extend this to our clothes! My husband remarked the other day that there was only one piece of black clothing in a sea of colour. In the past, I wore A LOT of black! Now I own a lot of dresses with patterns! And last week when I was on vacation with a friend, I bought a bright coloured dress!! Nothing like I would have ever bought! I am working through the fear are standing out and staying safe. Beige, black are colours that help to blend in...they also hide personality too!
Thanks for this thoughtful piece. I didn't realise I was on a journey to more colour and risk!!
You're welcome.
It was such a profound observation from my daughter that just deserved some thought.
It seems easier to be beige than bright but it’s worth the effort. I’m a planner but not afraid of change. I think we can be both, to great effect. Thanks for the thoughtful reminder to keep amping up our bright lights.
Thank you for mentioning me in such a beautifully written article. I was listening to a podcast earlier about showing up fully as yourself online and then I read your article. It got me thinking about easy it is to become beige and boring in how we show up on social media and around others because beige is easily digestible and likable... but its not vibrant and often not authentic.
-- I dated a guy who was a "Bay street" lawyer. I took his shirts to the laundry mat and noticed they were all white. I bought him a blue shirt and he never wore it... "Individuals who are prone to being boring often exhibit a profound fear of standing out from the crowd. They prefer to blend into the background, avoiding any actions or behaviors that might draw attention to themselves. This fear stems from a deep-seated concern about being perceived as different or unconventional by others."
Love it.
I'm on a journey to not fade into invisibility and beigeness as I get older. So many women fade into the background and then complain about it to each other. I think it's up to us to shine and to find things that bring us joy. If we fill our world with the people and activities we love, that overflows and we stay vital and vibrant. It doesn't have to be a big effort - just lots of small intentions - and taking the responsibility on ourselves to keep our colours and not letting them fade.
Absolutely!
And sometimes, all it takes is to just speak up.
Many of us in our fifties, sixties and older are of the age that we were taught to be seen and not heard. I think this has fueled this idea of complacency.
The younger generations have been taught to speak their mind (too freely sometimes) but I think they will not be Beige when they age, they will remain a vibrant hue.
I loved this post! Sometimes I feel like we're encouraged to put ourselves in silos or niches and downplay our quirks and yet it's the authentic whole that really makes us shine.
Thank you so much!
Yes, its like not wearing that fuchsia dress or short skirt because we are older. Just because we age, doesn't necessarily mean we need to be frumpy or mundane in our lifestyle. Sometimes, it takes an outsider to point out these changes as they can often occur so slowly that we do not notice them.