Finding My Yellow
August 29, 2024
Credit: Pinterest
Writer: Sarah Bowie
Editor: Dani Eder, Kate Shapiro, & Ava Malkin
Oftentimes, when we hear the word yellow, our minds fill with images of brightness and warmth. Yellow is simple, and it can symbolize the joys that come from the rather simple things in life. People often use the line “It’s the little things” to emphasize the unexpected moments of glee we find in our busy day-to-day lives.
The words “I'm going for a walk” put my mind at ease. A walk is simple, just like the color yellow. Yet, when I say this, my peers often express surprise. For many, walking is associated with unwanted physical activity and extra “work.” It can seem like a chore. However, I find a long walk to be the antithesis of a chore.
Routines like my daily walks make me feel productive and fill me with a sense of accomplishment. Getting things done, even simple tasks like this, allows me to enjoy myself when I finally find time to relax. These “little things” also motivate me to continue working towards my goals. Incorporating a walk into my routine not only perpetuates my productivity but also provides a necessary mental break and a time to reset amidst a busy day. Walking is my yellow.
While going for a walk, my first instinct is to call a friend. As a college student away from home, it’s important to me to keep in touch with home friends and family. While I’m grateful to always be surrounded by people at school, whether it’s roommates, classmates, or the constant socialization that fills a college campus, it’s refreshing to reconnect with home once in a while. While my short walks emulate yellow because they emit positivity and energy, I also get to speak to the individuals who provide me with that same sense of yellow: comfort and joy.
Walks have taught me that the concept of alone time is often undervalued. There are times when I worry about coming across as selfish for diverging from the group. I’ve learned that it’s not selfish, but rather a moment to reset and invest in my overall well-being. It’s a moment to enhance my yellow nature. In fact, if I don’t allow myself to reset, I prevent myself from being the best version of myself, and risk suppressing my yellow.
Whether you have a specific goal of reaching 10,000 steps a day, or you just want to be more active, taking a walk provides feelings of accomplishment. While walking benefits your physical health, I find it equally as important for my mental health. Walking is simple, refreshing, and productive. Walks are a positive moment in my day that brings me comfort and warmth. As I reflect on the simple joy I find in taking a walk, I see that going for a walk is my yellow.
