Indigo Exhaustion & Blue Regret...💙💙💙💙

A wonderful and thought-provoking 1985 oil and acrylic painting called Blue Monday, created by an uber-talented visual artist named Annie Lee, features a young African American woman sitting on the edge of her bed while trying to muster the energy to go to work on a Monday morning at a job that she does not enjoy. Hence, the woman in the painting is essentially fighting the "Monday Blues."

Here is Google's take on the meaning of the famous Blue Monday painting: "The work captures the heavy weight of daily fatigue, the struggle of the early morning routine, and the quiet resilience needed to start a new work week."

Here is Miss Annie Lee's fabulous Blue Monday painting:

First Impressions 

The countenance and body language of the subject depicted in the Blue Monday painting immediately caught my attention. The level of spiritual exhaustion that the woman in the painting is experiencing is very relatable to me as a person who deals with CFS syndrome.

From my perspective, the woman's bowed head represents prayerfully asking God for strength to complete her daily tasks.

Additionally, the moody blue color palette that the artist chose to use is very striking and almost feels like an additional character living within the painting.

In my opinion, the shades of blue that are heavily utilized throughout the painting seem to be symbolic of the "blue mood" that many people experience when the weekend is over and they have to return to a stressful or unfulfilling job to make ends meet.

I love the authenticity and emotional vulnerability that this painting conveys to the viewer. Its honest depiction of spiritual exhaustion reminds us that we are mere mortals that occasionally need refueling.

Last week, I truly felt the weight of the work week. I was punch-drunk with fatigue 😂, and that delightful experience, along with the theme of exhaustion that is so brilliantly showcased in Miss Annie Lee's Blue Monday painting above, as well as the painting itself inspired me to write a poem that explores the themes of exhaustion, complacency, and desire. Interesting tidbits from Miss Annie Lee's life story also helped to influence my poem's DNA. 🧬

My poem is entitled "Indigo Exhaustion & Blue Regret." I hope that you enjoy it.

Indigo Exhaustion & Blue Regret written by Tiffany Gordon

Here I sit...

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Shoulders slumped…

One shoe missing…

Head bowed in submission…

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• Early morning light...

• An overbearing stack of bills...

• My children's every want and need…

**Each item beckons me to rise for another day of monotony...

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My stifled dreams always stop by around 5:05 AM each morning as I begin to ready myself for an uninspiring job that doesn't truly speak to my spirit or my calling...

These repressed wishes noisily and aggressively remind me through a series of urgent and repetitive intrusive thoughts that they are barely alive and feeling neglected...

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Deep down I know that I was born to do more than clerical work, but I have life obligations that keep me knee-deep in the waters of complacency...

My therapist recently asked me several relevant questions that stuck with me:

1) Do my desires matter? If not, why?

&

2) What will it take to fulfil my dreams?

Until I gain the chutzpah to answer these questions honestly, I will continue to soldier on half-heartedly, with 'Indigo Exhaustion & Blue Regret' tattooed on my countenance like a full-bodied birthmark.

Mini Biography For Miss Annie Lee

Chicago native Annie Lee won an art contest at age ten and once turned down an art scholarship to Northwestern University in favor of tying the knot and rearing children. Her life choices eventually led her to a job as a clerk in the engineering department at her local railroad company.

Once Annie's children were grown (one unfortunately passed away) and she had become a widow twice over, Annie decided to return to her artistic roots and began attending art school (for eight years) at night while working for Northwestern Railroad during the day. 

Eventually Annie's diligent persistence paid off. She began painting professionally at the age of 40. She subsequently had her first gallery showing at the age of 50. 

Her signature, faceless paintings depict everyday African American subjects and their day-to-day lives and have been featured on such popular African American sitcoms as A Different World, 227, and Amen.

Miss Annie Lee's story reminds us that artistic dreams don't have an age limit and that success can be achieved later in life.

Thanks for stopping by Vocal Fam! May all of your future Mondays be non-indigo! 😁

Much Love,

Tiffa Go 🌸

Here is a short clip of Miss Annie Lee in her own words: