WHAT SEASON ARE YOU?
Seasonal Color Analysis, Curlers + Retirees, & Spreading Workplace Joy
“Aprils have never meant much to me, autumns seem that season of beginning, spring.”—Truman Capote
Hiya, Friends!
Happy Fall Back! Hope you’re all enjoying the drop in temperature and that extra hour of sleep. I sure am. I love this time of year even though it’s still 80 degrees in the afternoon here in Los Angeles.
Is there such a thing as a reverse snowbird—someone who relocates to a colder climate for half the year? If so, sign me up because I live for cozy sweaters, hot beverages, soup, blankets, and my heating pad cape, which I’m wearing right now like an arthritic superhero.
I’M A WINTER
I know a lot of folks get bummed out that there are less hours of daylight from now until Spring, but I don’t mind the darkness. This might be because I’m a Winter as per the popular book from the 1980s called Color Me Beautiful by Carole Jackson. Who remembers the “What Season Are You?” craze of the late 80s? My mom was an image consultant for a spell and this book was one of the many tools in her arsenal to help people up their style game.
If you’ve never heard of the book or seasonal color analysis before, here’s the gist: Certain colors look better on us due to our skin tone, hair, and eye color. It’s a simple concept and yet, some people have a hard time figuring out their most flattering hues. Case in point: Jared’s hair is light brown and his eyes are blue. Back when we started dating, he only wore beige shirts, which completely washed out his features. He was like the Invisible Man, disappearing into walls at parties. I finally convinced him to put on a blue shirt and suddenly he remembered he was cute.
Apparently this seasonal color trend has made a comeback thanks to a TikTok effect called ARMOCROMIA. Search for it on TikTok and you can make a little video with your face surrounded by seasonal colors like this:
TBH, this filter kind of stressed me out what with the music and flashing screen. If I hadn’t already known I was a Winter, I’m not sure this filter would’ve helped me figure it out. But give it a try and let me know what you think. There’s also a number of quizzes online you can take that are more straightforward like this one.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF COLOR
Perhaps all this color stuff is a big who cares to you and seems frivolous, but I’m bringing it up because color has a dramatic impact on our moods. This is especially true in Fall and Winter, when the sky darkens, the temperature drops, flowers disappear, and leaves fall off the trees.
Like I said, I don’t mind the cold and darkness, but for many folks the absence of bright colors in nature causes Seasonal Affective Disorder also known as SAD. It can be a very debilitating condition with symptoms that range from lethargy, listlessness, lack of concentration, hopelessness, appetite changes, and weight gain. Mental health pros recommend a sun lamp to help chase the blahs away and it sounds like very worthwhile investment. I’m clearly no expert in this space, but I’ve found that wearing bright, cheerful colors lifts and lightens my mood and perhaps it would work for you too. Or maybe just surrounding yourself with soothing colors in your home would do the trick. I pulled the following info from WebMd.
YOUR INTERNAL CLOCK
Scientists have found that bright blue light may help reset your circadian rhythm if it gets out of whack. Studies show blue has the biggest positive effect on the physical, mental, and behavioral patterns you go through every 24 hours. Researchers are looking into ways it might help treat depression and other mood problems.
MEMORY
Colors can affect what you remember. If there’s lots of red around, you’re more likely to recall negative words. Green, on the other hand, tends to make you hold on to positive ones. That may help you have a happier view of your life and a healthier state of mind.CREATIVITY
The color green can help get the creative juices flowing. Scientists compared it with white, gray, red, and blue, and green helped people do better with both word-based and picture-based activities. So if you’re looking for a new color for your office walls, think green.
How do you cope with winter? Please share.
RECOMMENDED READING
Here’s a short round-up of some of my favorite heartwarming and inspiring reads of the week. The New York Times articles are gift links and should be free to access.
Olympic Hopefuls Needed a Home. A Retirement Community Stepped Up.
Big thanks to my friend and fellow Stacker, Martine for sending this sweet article in the New York Times about the beauty of intergenerational living arrangements and friendships.
New Zealand’s curling team wanted to train with the “big boys” in Canada, and a group of enthusiastic seniors has provided housing, a cheering section and lots of advice.
SPREADING INTEROFFICE JOY
Have you ever worked at soul-crushing job and thought, what if I singlehandedly try to make my coworkers feel appreciated and bring some joy to this godforsaken place? I’m sure I tried to be a positive presence at the office, but most of the time I was planning my escape route. Fellow Substacker, Julia Williamson, on the other hand, went full Amélie on her coworkers. I found her tale incredibly moving and inspiring. Now I’m trying to figure out how to replicate this idea in my life.
“Phase two was the beating heart of the enterprise. I sent anonymous love notes to my 300+ coworkers. Each started with the words “I love working with you because…”. Because you have the best playlist in the building. Because you wear nutty outfits on every holiday. Because I can hear you laughing from the other side of the building. I snuck these onto desks when no one was looking. I sent them anonymously through interoffice mail.
And finally, this piece about the youngest woman living in a retirement community is kind of my dream life.
THE YOUNGEST SENIOR
That’s a wrap for today. If you enjoyed any of these musings, hit the ❤️ button or leave a comment. I always love hearing from you.
Do you know anyone who might like In With The Old? I’m offering some fun rewards for referrals like a signed copy of the cookbook I co-auathored, THE KITCHEN DECODED. Whee!
That would be amazing!!!
I am a winter! And I also love the cozy vibes of fall and winter. Snow is my happy place, even though I don’t do any winter activities (unless reading on a snowy day counts). I also loved the story about sending coworkers appreciation notes! Keep writing! I love your stories!