“Green is of nature. Of balance and growth. It’s restful and secure, symbolizing harmony, healing, and stability.”

— Londonimageinstitute.com

The days grew shorter, the weather more inclement, and never-ending sports ran on T.V. A little sports viewing is a good thing, but after a while you need to get up, move around and find some productive activity. A major portion of decluttering has been done, but I still need to delve into the little stuff – old cosmetics, unused perfume, cast off hair brushes, dried up fingernail polish and so on. Sam contributed holey socks and torn camouflage pants. It was about that time Sam asked if he might do some chore that needed doing. Well, I had been thinking maybe repainting the small bathroom. It was just a minor thing like a little paint on the wall.

Color is important to me. At the risk of sounding odd sometimes it’s almost like I can absorb it into my being. Color can become a craving or an annoyance. There’s more to color than just color. Color ignites or quiets emotions, moods and feelings. It’s well-known restaurants — particularly fast-food restaurants — find warm to hot colors are stimulating and increase appetites, whereas a restaurant catering to long lingering romantic dinners will be dark, subdued, quiet, lit by low lights or candles. Color matters.

Ancient Egyptians and Chinese began practicing “chromotherapy,” sometimes known by other names, believing color could be used for healing. Red stimulated the body, the mind and circulation. Yellow was calming and cleansing. Orange healed the lungs and increased energy. Blue soothed illness and pain. Green is calming and tranquil, reminding us of nature and all things new. Green lighting has even shown to improve reading ability. All this being said, I thought it would be lovely if Sam would paint the small bathroom green. It would be so simple.

Before starting all the wall décor was removed. It was obviously way too much. The curtain rod was taken down as was the breaker box cover. Also, the towel racks, mirror and garbage can were removed.

The first day required gathering tools, wall paint, rollers and pans, brushes, tape, a 4×4 sheet of sheetrock, Kilz paint, some thin molding, and caulk. There was some sanding to do, clean up and repair so that was day one.

The second day the water tank on the toilet was disconnected, and a leak was discovered so the valves had to be repaired. Switch, outlet plates and towel bars removed. Nail and screw holes repaired. Caulk and Kilz were applied. Then a drying period for 24 hours so that ended day two.     

On the third day the molding was cut and placed and the real painting was applied to the walls. It was a beautiful green called “green glass.” I was feeling soothed and tranquil already.

By the fourth day the switch and outlet covers were replaced, the mirror and towel bars attached. A wall hanging with a fishing motif was mounted, it had matching framing like the mirror. It was all lovely and like I told Sam, “See everything was oh so simple.”

Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].