Okay, we\u2019re into December, and it\u2019s 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 \u201cpowerful and empowering\u201d? An overriding sense that you can be \u201cbrave and fearless,\u201d that you are ready for \u201cexperimentation and self-expression without restraint,\u201d that life is \u201celectrifying\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No? C\u2019mon, get with it! And for inspiration, you may want to consider, for example, a mighty creature called the cochineal. It\u2019s 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\u2019t like to eat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And how do predators know not to eat her? We\u2019ll it turns out that carminic acid is not only toxic to the taste, it\u2019s exquisite to the eye. It give the cochineal an electrifying appearance \u2013 vivid shades of pink and red \u2013 that cannot be missed. She’s one badass colorful girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u201cinvokes the forces of nature, galvanizes our spirit, and helps us build our inner strength.\u201d It\u2019s a shockingly graphic hue that plays well in the virtual space but is \u201crooted in the natural world.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who says so? The folks at Pantone, that\u2019s who. They have made their annual choice, and this morning they have announced their Color of the Year. It’s a color that is \u201cbrave, that is fearless, it depicts optimism and joy \u2013 and we know that we are all greatly in need of that.\u201d 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\u2019ve got to do is say the name. Ready, all together now\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
VIVA MAGENTA!<\/p>\n\n\n\n