Brightness shines from downtown during Yellow Day celebration
CHILLICOTHE— Yellow is a bright attention-grabbing color that some psychologists suggest can evoke positive moods.
The color is known to bring energy and happiness which is exactly what happened as yellow flooded the streets of downtown Chillicothe during the annual Yellow Day celebration.
Yellow Day is a day when people are encouraged to intentionally choose kindness towards others through random acts of kindness.
School Celebration
During Yellow Day several schools gathered downtown to do random acts of kindness. Local businesses were open during this time, several of which handed out treats and toys to students to help spread the yellow. These businesses also donned decorated windows filled with flowers and other joyful pictures reminding everyone to be yellow. The railroad museum was also open allowing school groups to walk through the museum and see the recreated caboose.
Before the presentation on the Ross County Courthouse steps the Chillicothe High School Jazz Band energized students. Ben Trotter kicked off the program by explaining to those who had gathered what Yellow Day is and why it was being celebrated. Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney and students then read a proclamation officially making May 5, 2023, Yellow Day in the city of Chillicothe.
To celebrate how Yellow Day started Hudson Ward, manager of the Carlisle Building, read the "Yellow Day" book by Adam Peterson. Peterson wrote the book in memory of his coworker, Honor, who was a kindergarten teacher and the mother of Trotter. The book is meant to remind people how much of a better place the world can be if we are all kind to each other. It tells about Honor, how much she loved others and how she could make gray skies yellow.
"We are here to celebrate a way of life," said Ward. "A life of kindness."
As they left students were tasked with using the light inside of them every day through their actions and continuing to spread positivity to everyone they meet.
Yellow Day is for Everyone
Yellow Day is not just for school-aged kids, it is for everyone in the community, which is why the National Church Residences retirement home in Chillicothe joined in on the celebrations. Residents received yellow treats to help spread happiness as well as a visit from four-legged, feathered and scaly Petland animals and a Tecumseh! actor.
Jan Nusbaum, a daughter of a resident at the facility, said events like these are a great way to bring joy and open the world of those living in the facility. This event, she said, is a great way for the community to show their appreciation for the caregivers at the facility who work hard to provide the best care possible.
Jeremy Smith, from the facility, said events that bring joy to the residence are a great way to show the community some of the organization's core values of compassion, purposeful service and excellence. One resident, Asunta Harrison, said she originally wasn't going to join the celebration but was glad she did as she got to see people out and having fun with the different crafts and entertainment. She personally enjoyed the music and artwork that came from the Yellow Day celebration.
Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Brightness shines from downtown during Yellow Day celebration
