I recently put a little color into my life, but apparently I need a whole lot more. When we moved to the small Montana town where we live, we bought a small old building, moved in and went to work since both my husband and I had deadlines. The walls were once white, I think. Then one day I just couldn’t take it anymore.

It is amazing what a little paint did for my mood. Little did I know though just how important those coats of paint  were to my mental and physical well-being.

At the time I chose my colors, I didn’t know about Color Psychology. Fortunately, I went with my gut. When I chose “Sombrero” (which turned out to be an orangey terracotta) I didn’t know that orange was a “joyful” color that evokes fun, cheeriness and warm exuberance.

It also apparently relieves feelings of self-pity and lack of self-worth, something every writer I know could use especially on deadline. Orange also, according to chromotherapists, stimulates the mind to find interest in life and lifts the spirits. Hallelujah!

On the downside, orange is believed to increase cravings for food. But you can’t have everything in only one color, right?