Wiping Away the Blues and Washing Away the Mean Reds
“You can be the most enchanting person at a party and still catch the blues and mean reds when you least expect it.”
By Jessica Huynh, Storyteller for RU Student Life
“You know those days when you get the mean reds?”
“The mean reds? You mean like the blues?”
“No. The blues are because you’re getting fatter and maybe it’s been raining too long; you’re just sad, that’s all. The mean reds are horrible though. Suddenly you’re afraid, and you don’t know what you’re afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?”
Audrey Hepburn captivated our hearts in her iconic portrayal of Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Depicting a dazzling, nomadic character, Golightly’s cinematic spirit came to life and danced before our eyes. Her enchanting naivety revealed a story of a girl who kept running, only to realize she was running from herself all along. Golightly, a self-proclaimed “wild thing”, sheds her old life in search of a larger-than-life self — one that even a Tiffany jewellery box couldn’t contain! However, her vulnerability becomes increasingly apparent as the plot thickens. The mean reds is just one of the many whimsical analogies Holly made that captured a real emotion many people experience every day.
As Holly pointed out, the blues are common and fairly easy to combat. It’s normal to feel more melancholy some days more than others. Why, a quick pick-me-up is all you need to wipe the blues away! You can combat the blues by watching your favourite movie, reading an enthralling novel, or fitting light workout into your day. But the mean reds? The mean reds are something entirely different.
The mean reds are harder to pinpoint and infinitely more difficult to resolve. Although I am not a huge fan of labels, it can feel a lot like anxiety, a panic attack, or an existential crisis. Suddenly, as Golightly described, you feel the world collapsing in on you as you pant heavily for air.
You’re afraid and paralyzed with fear. You feel confused and disoriented. Every thought and action feels weighted down by a million invisible bricks. Reality begins to shatter into a million pieces and you’re terrified whether to painstakingly glue each piece back together or to walk away, barefoot over broken glass. Ah yes, the mean reds are mean indeed! It strikes when you least expect it, to the most unlikely of individuals, without a moment’s notice.
Because the mean reds are hard to identify (and experienced uniquely from person-to-person), it’s important to find a self-care method that works for you.
“Well, when I get [the mean reds] the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany’s. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it. Nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that’d make me feel like Tiffany’s, then… then I’d buy some furniture and give the cat a name!”
Combating the mean reds is a combination of removing yourself from a triggering situation, creating a safe space, grounding yourself, and seeking out familiarity. When you experience a tidal wave of the mean reds, it can be difficult to do anything at all. But you must remember: there is remarkable strength in just sitting with yourself, watching the clouds pass while the mean reds burn out like a slow flame.
What makes Holly Golighty such a beloved icon today is her relatability. The story of a girl trying to get by in the big city is a feeling many students can connect with. You can be most enchanting person at a party and still catch the blues and mean reds when you least expect it.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to have a real-life place like Tiffany’s. You know, just in case.
