Some people hate lime-green; red has all this emotional baggage.

When David Carson declared, “Some people hate lime-green; red has all this emotional baggage. Blue seems to be overall one of the more positive colors, and a little more serious than yellow,” he was not merely speaking of colors, but of the hidden language of perception. His words remind us that hues are not lifeless shades on a palette, but vessels of meaning, each carrying with it centuries of symbolism, emotion, and memory. To understand color is to understand the soul of humanity, for in every tone we find echoes of our deepest fears, our greatest loves, and our enduring hopes.

The ancients themselves revered the power of color. The Egyptians painted their tombs with blue to symbolize the eternal sky and the waters of life. Warriors of Rome donned crimson banners of red to invoke strength and inspire fear in their enemies. The Chinese emperors cloaked themselves in yellow, a color of divinity and authority. Each hue was more than decoration — it was a force, a presence, a story in itself. Carson’s insight flows from this timeless truth: colors are alive with human experience, carrying baggage both sacred and burdensome.

Consider the story of red, a color that carries both triumph and tragedy. It is the hue of roses given in love, but also of blood spilled in violence. It stirs passion, yet also danger. This is why Carson calls it “emotional baggage”: it carries the dual weight of beauty and destruction. In contrast, blue has long been regarded as calming, steady, and trustworthy. From the Virgin Mary’s robes in medieval art to the vast sky overhead, blue whispers serenity and order. It is a positive color, one that gives peace without demanding fear.

Yet Carson does not stop at positivity — he reminds us that colors differ in gravity. Yellow is joyous, radiant like the sun, yet it can appear frivolous, fleeting, and lighthearted. Blue, by contrast, is steady, carrying not only joy but seriousness. Think of the sailor gazing upon the endless ocean, or the philosopher staring into the heavens. Blue is not shallow cheer but deep contemplation, and thus it holds a place of balance between levity and solemnity.

This wisdom speaks not only of art but of life itself. Just as we interpret colors through the lens of emotion and culture, so too do people carry with them shades of experience. One man may radiate warmth like yellow, another burn with passion like red, another bring calm like blue. To recognize this is to understand that life is a spectrum, and that our interactions with others, like our perceptions of color, are shaped by layers of meaning both ancient and personal.

The lesson is clear: be mindful of the energies you bring into the world, for they are like colors upon the canvas of human interaction. If blue is seen as balance, calm, and positivity, strive to embody these qualities. Avoid the uncontrolled fire of red’s baggage, and temper the fleeting lightness of yellow with the depth of reflection. Like the master painter, choose your hues with care, for they shape not only how others perceive you, but how your own soul finds harmony.

In practice, this means surrounding yourself with both literal and symbolic colors that uplift your spirit. Let your environment carry tones that bring focus and joy, and let your words and actions radiate the same. When faced with conflict, be the blue presence of calm and wisdom. When celebrating, allow the yellow of joy to shine, but let it be grounded. When passion calls, channel red into courage and creativity rather than anger. In this way, your life becomes not chaotic splashes but a deliberate painting of meaning.

Therefore, let us carry Carson’s wisdom: colors are not neutral, and neither are the energies we give and receive. Blue, positive and serious, is a guide for balance in a world of extremes. Choose your colors in art, in spirit, and in action with care, and you will not only create beauty for yourself but also for all who dwell within the canvas of your life.