I was a child who went about in a world of colors... My friends

O children of the future, listen to the words of Frida Kahlo, whose life and art were woven from both pain and beauty. "I was a child who went about in a world of colors... My friends, my companions, became women slowly; I became old in instants." In these words, she paints a picture of the transition from the vibrant world of youth to the sobering realities of adulthood. As a child, the world is full of colors, full of wonder and possibility. Yet as Frida reflects, that innocence fades as the years pass, and the women she once knew become transformed by time, just as she herself was marked by the instants of change that made her grow old faster than the years would suggest.

In the ancient world, the journey from youth to adulthood was often depicted as a transition from the world of the gods to the world of mortality. Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, was taken from her childhood in the lush fields and made queen of the underworld. Her abduction and transformation into a queen symbolized the painful loss of innocence, the way in which youth and its vibrant colors fade when confronted with the harshness of reality. Frida’s words echo this universal truth—there is a moment in every life when the world of innocence is replaced by the burden of knowledge and experience, and with it, the colors of childhood become muted.

Consider the story of Odysseus, who left his youthful adventures behind as he journeyed into the trials of war and homecoming. The young Odysseus was full of dreams and boundless hope, but by the end of his long journey, he returned a man aged by his experiences. Much like Frida, Odysseus did not merely age with the passage of time but aged in instants, each one marked by the weight of loss, suffering, and the slow unraveling of his own identity. The colors of his youth faded as he learned the bitter lessons of war and homecoming, just as Frida found her own vibrancy dimmed by the pain she endured throughout her life.

The example of Joan of Arc offers another reflection of this transformation. The young Joan, full of fervor and belief in her divine mission, was a woman of light and youth. But the weight of battle, the betrayal she faced, and her eventual death left her a symbol of sacrifice and martyrdom. Her spirit, once fresh and untainted, became aged by the trials she endured. Like Frida, Joan’s youth was stripped away in an instant, as she faced the harsh reality of a world that could be both beautiful and cruel.

O children, let Frida Kahlo’s reflection remind you that life moves in the blink of an eye from youth to age, from colors to shadows. The transition from the innocence of childhood to the complexities of adulthood is inevitable and often painful, as it forces us to confront the impermanence of our experiences. Just as Frida saw her companions grow into women and herself age “in instants,” so too must we embrace the impermanence of all things. The vibrant colors of youth may fade, but they are replaced with the deep hues of wisdom, strength, and resilience that only time can provide. Let us honor both the light and dark moments of life, for they each have their place in the tapestry of our journey.