Why Yellow
March 18, 2024
Author: Rachel Roseberg
Editor: Julia Carroll
I can’t remember exactly when yellow became my favorite color, but I definitely recall when it was my least favorite. I was around six years old and I asked my mom what her favorite color was, to which she promptly responded, “yellow.” “Like pee?!” I replied. “No Rach, like sunshine.” Perhaps that was the moment I started warming to the idea of liking the color yellow, but at that point in time it was seemingly at the bottom of my list.
My favorite color fluctuated often—when asked, I always landed on a different answer. Most times, I just picked whatever color my eye landed on at the moment. Orange, like the sunset; purple, like the flowers my mom bought at the grocery store that morning; pink, like my favorite Curious George t-shirt. Though for years, I couldn’t commit to just one. The concept of picking a favorite anything has always been an enigma to me.
Whether I am asked my favorite food or favorite season, I have always felt as though my response has been random. How can I choose one favorite, when I see everything as equally beautiful? I love watching the leaves change color in the fall, cozying up with a blanket in the winter, going on picnics in the spring, and cooling off in the ocean in the summer. I love stuffing my face with comfort food: the warmth of mashed potatoes, the familiarity of matzo ball soup, and the joy of a freshly stacked plate of pancakes. I love the adventure of an unheard of ice cream flavor or unique flavor combination in a dish I have yet to try. Over time, I realized there was one favorite I could nail down. When prompted, I am now eager to share that my favorite color is yellow.
Although, to me, yellow is not just a color; yellow is a mindset, a feeling, and a lifestyle. Yellow encompasses the feeling of seeing your friends light up when they talk about something they are passionate about. It is finding a new song you could listen to for hours and savoring a bowl of ice cream while rewatching episodes of Hannah Montana. It is a feeling of bliss, joy, love, and happiness. Yellow is the orange sunset, emanating warmth. Yellow is the purple tulips my mom always bought at the grocery store when I was young. Yellow is the pink curious george shirt I refused to take off because it made me confident as a kid. Yellow is whatever you want it to be. I find my love of yellow can’t be summed up briefly. Though, if I were to attempt, I would probably say my favorite color is yellow, like sunshine.
