In a world where rudeness and verbal sparring are par for the course, all of us appreciate a friendly word or gesture by a stranger.
For the last couple of years, I have been spotting rocks, painted in bright colors or endowed with positive messages, and they always bring a smile to my face and cheer to my soul. I usually take a photograph, and leave them in place for someone else to discover and enjoy.
Last autumn, an article in our local newspaper revealed that these isolated pieces are part of a larger puzzle. The 719 Rocks Campaign (719 being our telephone area code) was initiated by a Colorado Springs resident who had come across similar stones during a visit to a different state. She subsequently learned of the Kindness Rocks Project that began at Cape Cod in 2015 and spread from there. A local Massachusetts woman, strolling along the beach while looking for signs from her deceased parents in the form of heart-shaped stones or sea glass, felt compelled to inscribe a few with sympathetic statements. When an acquaintance of hers picked one up by happenstance, and texted her that it meant the world to her, without knowing who had placed them there, it resulted in a movement. According to the Kindness Rocks website, its stated purpose is “to cultivate connections and lift others up through simple acts of kindness.”
I am grateful to all artists, old and young, who take time and effort to create comical, cheerful, or considerate rocks to share with perfect strangers. Finding one of these care packages is a reminder of our common humanity, and of our collective need for a smile, encouragement, inspiration. Each is a tiny token of the positive power of the human heart that can overcome the bad, and a subtle suggestion to pay forward the kindness we receive.
Now that’s pretty neat! Thanks for sharing Tanja.
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Thank you, Dwight. I love the notion of spreading goodness one rock at a time. Keep your eyes open, you might find some in your neck of the woods as well.
Best,
Tanja
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I love the “Bee Mine” grouping – they’re wonderful! This is so interesting to me because Candice (Canada) had posted about “inspiration” rocks on 06 Dec 2017 – made and placed by schoolchildren (and kindness rocks are mentioned in the post comments). https://thismademesmiletoday.wordpress.com/2017/12/06/artsy-rocks/
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Thank you for pointing this out to me, Liz. I am not the only one who gets touched by these messages in stone.
Best wishes,
Tanja
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The concept is lovely and most anyone can participate, it seems a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing about it Tanja!
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Maybe someone needs to introduce the concept to New Zealand, Liz?! 🙂
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Beautiful post, Tanja. Thanks for sharing the ‘rocks’ and their messages.
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Thank you, Vicki. If everybody sent more of these positive messages in stone, rather than all the negative, divisive ones via our modern media. maybe we would all get along better!
Best wishes,
Tanj
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Eine sehr schöne Idee!
Machst du auch mit, Tanja?
Die Steine sind alle hübsch und interessant ebenfalls.
Danke fürs Zeigen.
Liebe Grüße über den großen Teich,
Brigitte
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Bisher bewundere ich nur die Werke der Künstler, liebe Brigitte, denn ich bin eine der unbegabtesten Malerinnen, die Du Dir vorstellen kannst. 😊
Ganz herzliche Grüße auch an Dich.
Tanj
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Lovely pictures! My daughter-in-law lives in the Springs and paints rocks!
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That’s great, Valerie. These little gestures sustain my brittle faith in humanity.
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What a lovely idea. The world is full of good people, the problem is they dont make the news often enough!
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You are right, Cathy. Somehow, the negative always wins out. So let’s keep sharing some positive news.
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Großartige Idee! Es erinnert mich daran, dass ich als Kind der Steinmalerei auch verfallen war.
Diese kleinen Bees sind so was wie süß!!
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Dann kannst Du ja vielleicht Dein Hobby wiederbeleben! 🙂
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I never heard about these rocks, but what a lovely idea!
Thanks for sharing their pictures with us and may you find a lot more of them!
Kindest regards,
Christa
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Thank you, Christa. I am trying to convince fellow bloggers to take this up in other countries. How about Canada?! 🙂
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Hi.
My wife and I have been going to Cape Cod for 20 years. I think of it as my second home. But I never knew about the Kindness project before. I’ll do some investigating the next time I’m there
Happy 4th, Tanja. I hope that today has been a good day for you —
Neil
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I envy you your Cape Cod experience, Neil, but one cannot know about everything. Keep an eye out for the rocks or glass shards the next time you are there!
Best,
Tanja
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What a wonderful idea and thanks for sharing the positive message. The North Sea Coast has a lot of stones… 😉 Ulrike
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Somebody needs to start this movement in Germany! 🙂
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Aw, that’s awesome! We need more of this in the world. Thank you for introducing me to it .. perhaps we can start our own trend here.
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You are the right woman to do it, Shannon! :-)Maybe once school starts up again?!
I hope you are well.
Tanja
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That’s a pretty cool project. We need more of these rocks in the world! 🙂
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I absolutely agree, Nirmala. We should all start to paint!
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They are awesome! Idea is great. I am glad that You showed them. Thank You.
Have a good day!
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I am glad you agree. Thank you for visiting and for commenting!
Best wishes,
Tanja
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This is really cool, I love it! They would certainly bring a smile to my heart. 🙂
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This is such a nice share. There was a similar rock in the late 60′ s up thru the mid 1970’s called “the pet rock”. Someone msnd millions from the concept.
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Thank you. I really like that this is not about money at all, but simply about spreading positivity and encouragement.
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True, I agree. The Pet rock, at a small purchase price claimed peace and having one on your desk, garden etc was as a ‘lucky charm’. Nice to know of this non-monetary encouragement of positivity. Hope you’re having a great. weekend tanjabritton.
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I hope you are enjoying your weekend as well! Best wishes,
Tanja
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Tanja –
I love this post and the idea of Kindness Rocks. Your pictures really capture the spirit of them. I am going to share this with an artist friend of mine. Maybe we could start some kindness rocks here….. -Jill
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Thank you so much, Jill. I was hoping the idea might catch on in different places! 😊
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I think your post will inspire others besides me. 😊
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👍
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What an amazing and heart-warming movement. ‘Kindness Rocks’ what a clever concept. ☺️
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I agree, Sophia, and I am glad someone came up with this clever name and positive movement.
Best wishes,
Tanja
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I’m from Northeat Ohio, where painting rocks blossomed this Spring 🙂 The best feeling in the world is reading stories about the kindness making a difference at just the right time.
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I agree, Brandy. We all need positive messages from time to time, and simply knowing that someone cares, can make a big difference.
Thank you for stopping by, for commenting, and for following my blog!
Best wishes,
Tanja
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I look forward to reading more of your work 🙂
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Thank you!
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Reblogged this on Kindness Blog.
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[…] Kindness Rocks | by Tanja of Tanja Britton (Colorado, USA) […]
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