I love the story you wrote with it and I'd like to add something extra to it. Yes, we do have brighter days and days with less color. In photography we have Lightroom or Photoshop to correct the hue, saturation, brightness and contrast. We have sort of the same thing in life, but we realise it too little. Our mind is capable of the greatest things. It can add brightness by staying positive. It can change hue by seeing opportunities in down moments. Our creativity will decide how saturated that color can be and our hospitality to other cultures can add the contrast we need to see the situation scharper.

Conclusion: Photography=Life, it's all about the perspective.