The color I like:

It’s a question I was often asked — and used to ask others — when I was a kid, and sometimes even now:
“What is your favorite color?”
We tend to believe that the color we love says something about who we are. But over time, I’ve come to realize that it’s not the color itself, but why we love that color that expresses who we are more deeply.

I love light blue — sky blue. The kind of blue that gives me a sense of calm and peace. It carries a cool, comfortable atmosphere. I still remember an advertisement from a paint brand called TOA, where the son had their first room painted in that light blue shade. It instantly felt like my dream room. Since then, I’ve always called that shade TOA blue. That color has stayed in my mind ever since.

Then, when I started university and began learning English, I came across the phrase “feeling blue”, people explained it meant feeling sad or depressed. It made me pause — would loving blue somehow lead me into sadness?

Today, I no longer worry about what meanings are attached to the color. Light blue still makes me feel safe and grounded. It brings me closer to nature and the sky. Maybe that’s why most of my paintings and creative work tend to use cool tones — blues, greens, violets, and just a touch of yellow.

---

The colors I used to dislike:

There were many colors I didn’t like — or more accurately, believed I shouldn’t like. I grew up hearing that certain colors carried negative meanings, so I avoided them without even questioning why.

• Red: I was told red was only used in seductive or aggressive contexts. It symbolized ambition and intensity — things I felt didn’t fit me. I liked darker shades of red, but I never dared to buy or wear them. In feng shui, red was even considered my “unlucky” color. Then one day, I had a conversation with S., and it shifted something in me. Being calm and composed doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy red.
• Yellow: I was told it was the color of betrayal, or overly energetic and jealous personalities. But today I’ve always been drawn to mustard — that deeper, muted yellow. It feels warm and grounded, not at all like the labels people put on it.
• Purple: People said it was too romantic, too dramatic — in Vietnamese, we even have a negative word for it: “sến.” Nobody wanted to be called that. It meant you were cheesy, embarrassing. But today, I don’t care what people think. Even if they call me sến, I still think purple is cute — in fact, my watch is purple.
• Pink: Growing up, pink was “too girly.” I felt I had to be strong and self-reliant, especially for my family. Pink didn’t fit the image I thought I had to carry. But one day, I bought backpack that was completely pink — the girliest thing I owned — simply because it was adorable. A colleague asked, “Do you like pink?” and I reflexively said, “No, I actually hate pink.” She smiled and asked, “Then why did you pick this pink backpack?”
  That moment made me pause. Maybe I didn’t hate pink. Maybe I just believed I should.

For most of my life, I chose clothes in navy, black, or neutral colors. My mom often said my tanned skin shouldn’t wear certain colors or patterns. So I stayed in the “safe zone.”

But now, my wardrobe is full of variety — floral prints, bright shades, and anything that feels nice to wear. I have several mustard-colored dresses now, and even a few red ones. I no longer feel any hesitation when choosing clothes or things based on color or pattern.
I’ve realized I don’t actually hate any color. Each one carries its own story, and how we connect to it says more than the color itself.

I’ve finally set myself free from the beliefs I once held about color.

Thank you for reading — and now I’m curious:
What color do you love, and why?