Okay, we’re into December, and it’s a jazzy date of 12.2.22. So I gotta ask, are you feeling it this morning? You know, that forward-thinking vibe that is “powerful and empowering”? An overriding sense that you can be “brave and fearless,” that you are ready for “experimentation and self-expression without restraint,” that life is “electrifying”?

No? C’mon, get with it! And for inspiration, you may want to consider, for example, a mighty creature called the cochineal. It’s a tiny little beetle, native to subtropical South America and the American Southwest. This little gal flies around and drinks the juice of the prickly pear cactus. Cool, right? And her special magical power is to transform that groovy nectar into something called carminic acid, which makes up about 20% of her body weight, and which predators really don’t like to eat.

And how do predators know not to eat her? We’ll it turns out that carminic acid is not only toxic to the taste, it’s exquisite to the eye. It give the cochineal an electrifying appearance – vivid shades of pink and red – that cannot be missed. She’s one badass colorful girl.

Not surprisingly, the cochineal has long been used by us humans as a source of dye for everything from fashion to printing. And this morning, it has become an inspiration to the world. The cochineal color “invokes the forces of nature, galvanizes our spirit, and helps us build our inner strength.” It’s a shockingly graphic hue that plays well in the virtual space but is “rooted in the natural world.” And it hopes to serve as a Covid milestone, a turning of the corner away from the pandemic, that can soothe and calm but also uplift.

Who says so? The folks at Pantone, that’s who. They have made their annual choice, and this morning they have announced their Color of the Year. It’s a color that is “brave, that is fearless, it depicts optimism and joy – and we know that we are all greatly in need of that.” And so, I ask you again, are you feeling it this morning? No? Well then, you need a shot of colorful creativity. And to get it all you’ve got to do is say the name. Ready, all together now…

VIVA MAGENTA!

Or maybe you need to see it for yourself. I got you covered, here it is. Ladies and Gentlemen, prepare yourselves. Welcome to the Magentaverse!!