The Man with the Pink Knapsack: Even If No One Sees Your Rainbow

Within seconds he had passed in front of me, seated in my car at the red light intersection, before my delayed reaction spotted him and tuned in that bright and sunny day.

He walked at a fast pace, escorting an old bicycle on the sidewalk, as if he were escorting his date to senior prom.

Not that it mattered, but I could not tell his race. I could see that his hair was unruly, a makeshift between a drooping afro and tangled dreads. He was dusty, not quite grimy yet. But he looked like he had not taken a bath in days — perhaps, even weeks.

What had caught my attention first was just how happy he was. That is rare today, people displaying genuine joy. He was smiling and laughing as he walked, and busily chatting away.

But two things stood out immediately. He was wearing a bright pink knapsack on his back.

And even though he was immersed in an animated conversation, he was walking alone.

But — he was happy!

Perhaps, crazy too? After all, there was no one with him.

But — who was I to judge?

Many people, the experts say, are unhappy.

They live in constant turmoil. Some keep that from exploding, and others smother its erupting implosions within.

But — the man with the pink knapsack was happy.

Had his childhood imaginary friend grown up into an adult, too? Did he have a Harvey like Jimmy Stewart’s 1950 character Elwood? An imaginary six-foot white rabbit, a púca,?

Was that why the man with the pink knapsack was walking instead of riding his bike? The latter might have been considered rude to his invisible companion?

I had a lot of things to ponder after the light turned green and I drove in the opposite direction. I confess if I had more time, I might have followed the man with the pink knapsack — yes, I was curious to see just where he was going.

Maybe he was out of his mind?

Yes, perhaps he was out of his mind, but there were lots of people who considered themselves in their right mind. But — they were not happy.

He looked slightly familiar, and later I realized he was the homeless-looking guy I had seen weeks earlier near the fast food neighborhood further down the street. At that time, he had no bicycle, but was simply sitting on the sidewalk as life passed him by. He did not look happy.

There also was no pink knapsack, and instead, his rumpled bag of belongings looked as pitiful as him with some of the clothes within trying to escape.

My last stop of the day was a Latino grocery store for more large avocados. In the checkout line, the woman in front of me was in an animated conversation, too. But hers was not in silence, and perhaps, neither was the man with the pink knapsack because it was a Louisiana summer and my car windows had been rolled up to savor the AC.

The store customer in front of me spoke rapidly, and in Spanish. Even if it were English, I doubt if I would have understood because she spoke so quickly with such an urgency that her words meshed together. There was also underlying annoyance in her tone.

At first I thought she was talking with another woman in front of her until that customer picked up her groceries and walked out the store.

And the woman was still busy chatting away.

Then I saw her cell phone, after she retrieved it from her bosom, and I’m not sure why but I felt a sense of relief knowing that she must have been using hidden airbuds for her conversation because it was noisy all around us.

But — in the brief moments that followed, that did not really seem to be the case either.

Unlike the man with the pink knapsack, the woman was not happy, and perhaps, the person on the other line was not happy with her either.

Then it dawned on me that the woman was wearing a bright pink shirt.

Okay, what’s up with that? With the color pink that day? I wondered that as I drove home, and even in the days that followed.

Why were two individuals, across town on the same day, wearing bright pink, and moreover, why were they in deep conversations with invisible people?

I did not have answers to either question. I just knew that one was happy, one was not. And by happenstance, they were both wearing pink.

Hmm…

I also knew that mental wellness has mushroomed as a field of concern ever since the pandemic, and I had heard from social workers that those dark days had forsaken families and loved ones in its aftermath.

It brought harmony to a screeching halt. And more and more, individuals were turning to medications and holistic alternatives for relief.

Being locked up at home only exacerbated and compounded what had already become a growing trend.

There were even darker days ahead, and the happy dance had all but faded away.

But there is always a rainbow after any storm, a sign that God sends from the heavens above, along with His dove.

And therefore, we can be content in knowing that no matter how bad we feel, we are loved and there is help should we need it.

We just need to reach out to the professionals if we are seriously suffering, if we are hurting. We should not endure emotional pain alone because as we’ve heard many times before: Hurt people hurt people.

Throughout our business, career and personal life, we will encounter situations that leave us unhappy, but it does not mean we have to quit, or throw in the towel.

It does not matter if your situation makes you want to explode, or as the oldtimers used to say here in the South, makes you want to lose your religion. I think late rapper DMX captured the feeling in the famous lines of his popular Party Up (Up in Here) song: “Y'all gon' make me lose my mind…” and “Y'all gon' make me act a fool…”

What actions can you take to take get out of your druthers, and I am only referring to when you are having a bad day? As I noted, for serious trauma, please seek out the professionals.

But — to rid yourself of the everyday blues that tend to creep in, and sometimes catch you off guard, take following the action steps, courtesy of ChatGPT:

25 Recommendations to Lift Yourself After a Bad Day

1. Take a Walk Outside – Sunshine and fresh air can naturally shift your mood and perspective.
2. Drink a Glass of Water – Hydration helps energy, focus, and emotional regulation.
3. Put on Uplifting Music – Create a “Feel-Good” playlist to boost your spirit.
4. Take a Shower or Bath – Symbolically wash the day off; the warm water soothes tension.
5. Journal It Out – Write without filters—get the frustration out and off your chest.
6. Watch a Lighthearted Movie or Show – Let laughter or distraction take the wheel for a while.
7. Declutter One Small Space – Even clearing a drawer or desktop can restore a sense of control.
8. Call or Text Someone Safe – A short, positive exchange with a trusted person can restore connection.
9. Move Your Body – Dance, stretch, or do yoga—movement gets emotion moving too.
10. Name 3 Things You're Grateful For – Ground yourself in what’s still good.
11. Speak Kind Words to Yourself – Affirmations like “Today was hard, but I am still standing.”
12. Light a Candle or Diffuse Scents – Calming scents like lavender or citrus can regulate your senses.
13. Create Something – Draw, bake, write a poem, or build something simple. Creativity heals.
14. Read a Chapter of a Comfort Book – Revisit something encouraging or familiar.
15. Set a Timer and Rest – Even a 15-minute reset nap or eyes-closed pause helps recharge.
16. Make a Hot Beverage – Tea, cocoa, or coffee in a favorite mug can bring comfort and warmth.
17. Say No to One Thing – Lighten your load tomorrow by removing one unnecessary commitment.
18. Smile—Even if You Don't Feel Like It – It sends signals to your brain to shift mood.
19. Do a Small Act of Kindness – Compliment someone or send a kind message—it’ll lift you, too.
20. Look at the Sky – Watch clouds, birds, or stars. It gives your brain a wider frame of reference.
21. Pet an Animal (or watch cute pet videos) – Science backs how effective this is!
22. Write Down Tomorrow's First Task – End the day with a sense of purpose, not dread.
23. Unplug for 30 Minutes – Step away from news and social media noise.
24. Repeat a Grounding Phrase – “I am okay. I have survived all my hardest days.”
25. Give Yourself Permission to Reset – You don’t have to carry this day into tomorrow.

 

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I found myself envying the man with the pink knapsack. Whatever his story in life, whatever his plight, he let nothing disturb him that sunny and bright day as he walked down a busy street, escorting his old bicycle and talking with his friend. That day, despite storms in his life, the man with the pink knapsack chose sunshine even if others could not see his rainbow.

The busy world swarmed around him, but he remained steadfast — happily engaged in his animated conversation with his dear friend whom the world could not see.

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I’m Ruth Anita Foote, an award-winning journalist, historian, author, and online entrepreneur — passionate about helping you enhance your business, career, and lifestyle. Whether you need writing, editing, research, or online business development, I’m here to support your growth. My goal is to empower you to elevate your success and make a lasting impact in your field. You can connect to
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