The Slowburn: The Color of Connection

Without knowing her intent, my wife once asked me, “What’s your favorite color?”
Like many men, my response was dull: “Black. Beige. Earth tones.”

She didn’t buy it.
“Oh yeah?” she clapped back. “Go look in your closet and let me know your findings.”

Challenge accepted.

I know me.
I’m masculine. I track my protein. I work out. I stay ready. I smoke cigars. I like vintage. I like muscle cars. I keep the coffee black. My inner circle? Business owners. Ex-cons. Pastors. I can tell you which wild plants give you hell in the woods and which ones keep you alive on a survival hike.

So when I opened the closet door and stared at the rows of jackets, tees, boots, then caught sight of yellow, I paused.
There it was, bright, legitimate yellow, among all the natural, earthy tones.

Yellow?

Now, I’ve never been the Golden Arches type. I didn’t want people asking, “Wanna know how I know you’re gay?” when I rolled up in a Big Bird colored puffer jacket. Let’s be honest, most of my friends give me plenty of heat about my fashion choices. But here’s the thing: if yellow shows up in the closet, maybe I’m happier in yellow than I thought.

Turns out, yellow has a bad rap. Ever heard that McDonald’s uses yellow in its branding to keep people moving? According to color-psychology experts, yellow is “the most visible color in daylight,” and when paired with red, it triggers hunger, action, and quick turns. The fast-food world says: see the yellow, feel the urge, move on. Linger not.

But what if hang-time is exactly what you need?


People drawn to yellow are often energetic, positive, and forward-looking. They tend to see possibility everywhere, the type who chase new experiences and ideas. Yellow reflects curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm for life. It’s the color of sunlight, and those who love it often have a warmth that naturally draws others in.


Yellow is tied to the left (analytical) side of the brain. It’s associated with clear thinking, learning, and sharing ideas. People who favor it often crave mental stimulation, they enjoy conversation, wit, and insight. They’re lifelong learners and quick thinkers, but can also overanalyze or become restless when confined.


Lovers of yellow often stand out without meaning to. It’s the color of visibility and confidence. They may not seek attention, but they tend to have a strong sense of individuality. They’re expressive, often the “light” in a group, the one who can shift a room’s mood just by being there.


Getting vulnerable here….every color carries a shadow. With yellow, it’s anxiety, impatience, and self-criticism. Because yellow-minded people are often idealists and visionaries, they can be easily frustrated when reality doesn’t match their vision. They’re often harder on themselves than anyone else could be.


I realized I wasn’t just wearing yellow for flair. I was wearing it because I’m done hiding in the shadows. I’m done blending in. The closet mirrored the leaf: earth tones, predictable, safe. But the yellow, bold, visible, said: I’m here. I choose to be.

In the cigar world, looks matter, but identity matters more. The wrapper, the band, the box, they all speak. But what they say depends on who you are. If you’re always hiding in beige, the story feels half-told. If you step into the yellow, maybe the full story demands to be told.


If yellow is your color, you’re the guy (or gal) who lights the cigar for everyone else. You bring the spark. You’re not content just sitting in the corner, you want to create connection. You’re not afraid to show joy, even in a world that rewards cynicism. You’re the sunlight through the smoke, the reminder that life, at its best, is meant to be shared.


So yeah, my closet shouted yellow. And I’m listening. Because clothes aren’t vanity, they’re context. They speak before you talk. They tell what your story holds.

For the brothers and sisters of the leaf: don’t just pick what blends in. Pick what rings true. Pick what matches your story.
Pick the cigar that makes you linger.
Light it. Let the flavor show. Let the color flash. Let your voice be seen.

And maybe, just maybe, the yellow wasn’t what you thought it was.
It was what you needed it to be.

Light up & Lean in. Brolo forever.