Pink or Grey?

I have three pairs of socks that I bought while I was volunteering in Poland. It was cold there and I was beginning to realise that some extra pairs of socks would be a good idea. I was staying with a kind lady who hosted me and a girl from Turkey who was the same age as me and studied the same major as well. So needless to say, we made good friends with each other. Our host would take us shopping some times in the evenings. I’m really bad at spending money freely. I’m not proud of it because I really have no clue how I’ll be capable of making really huge purchases some day.

While I was in Poland I only bought things that I thought I’d really need and presents for my friends and family. Since the socks were becoming a necessity and I happened to lay eyes on a pretty good deal for three pairs of socks that came together, I decided to buy them. However, I had to make a choice. There were three pairs that were all plain grey and another three pairs that were various designs of pink. One of the pink pairs had purples stars all over them, another had “fabulous” written in dark pink all over them, and the last was white with pink soles and edges. Buying both sets was out of the question given my condition, and the girl I was back in 2019, was highly inclined to get the plain grey pairs of socks. But just to make sure I made the right choice, I asked my very pretty and stylish Turkish friend, which set of socks I should buy. She looked at me like I was insane for asking the question and said “ The pink ones of course!!, the grey ones are so plain and boring!”.

Thus I ended up becoming the owner of three very pink pairs of socks. I still have them with me and also use them, given that I’m not a regular shoes wearer in Sri Lanka. Regardless, of how many times I’ve worn them, each time I am reminded of my Turkish friend, and how it wasn’t even a question for her that the most interesting and colourful option was the better choice. I was inclined to play it safe, by buying all grey socks. I could mix and match them, and they probably won’t attract too much attention when a peek of them is visible above the shoe. But, none of that mattered to her. All that mattered was that it was the most colourful option.

Now, when I have to make choices of picking colours, I always try to pick the most colourful ones. Since then I’ve bought red and pink earphones in place of the boring black and white ones I used to buy. My new cardigans are printed colourful ones and my shoes are colourful with designs on them.

I think in life it’s sometimes very tempting to play it safe. To choose the plain and boring colours instead of the lively ones. Be a little less louder and try and hide in the shadows, so you don’t seem extra. But, if you don’t stay true to who you are, and don’t make that extra effort to do things that are really interesting to you, life will just be boring. So, the next time you have to choose between playing it safe or keeping it interesting, I say, listen to my Turkish friend. Choose the latter ❤️