I have always loved to paint and create things with any kind of pencil, pen, chalk, paints, and canvas or paper. I have not always been very good at it, but it is good for me and my soul and sanity to use my hands to make something beautiful. I love crafts of any kind, but painting with acrylics is probably my favorite.
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| Some of my very first Kindness Rocks (all are my artwork, some inspired by Pinterest) |
I am basically a very socially awkward person. It is hard for me to meet people, make new friends, and fit in. I have struggled to do this all my life. It scares me! Kindness Rocks have helped me become more outgoing. We went to an exhibit at a glass blowing studio where there were various artists selling their creations there. After I was done purchasing some glassworks from a very talented artist, I gave her a kindness rock. I was scared to do it, but I felt like I should. She came out from behind the table and hugged me and told me how much she appreciated the simple gesture of sharing a rock with a pretty heart on it. I felt so happy that we had both shared a little bit of ourselves and made a little connection with each other through our artwork.
Kindness Rocks have also helped me be a better person. We were on vacation on a bus tour where the driver, a senior woman, was becoming very impatient and upset with all of our tourist-y questions. It didn’t seem like she was having a very good day, and I was almost offended by her attitude. I happened to have a Kindness Rock with me, and as I thought about the hard feelings I was quickly developing towards this tour guide, I had the strongest feeling that I should give her that rock! It was quite a shock to have that feeling, but I knew it was the right thing to do. On our first stop, I chose a quiet moment when all of the other members of our group were off exploring to find our guide, explain the Kindness Rock concept, give her the rock, and share my gratitude and thanks with her for taking us on this tour. Her demeanor immediately changed! She was so grateful and happy that I had shared something with her! And even better, MY demeanor changed. My offended and unhappy feelings melted away and changed to joy! I was literally glowing with happiness! That was an important lesson to me not to judge others, and to always remember to be kind. And a simple rock helped me, a very awkward and shy person, break the ice.
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| My artwork, inspired by graphic designer, Nina Fedorova's design |
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| "Later, gator" helped me break the ice! |
Perhaps the greatest reason why I love painting and sharing Kindness Rocks is that I really want to make others happy. Many people who have found my rocks have posted on Facebook how much they have meant to them, and that they found the rock at a time in their life when they really needed a kind sentiment from someone. Kindness Rocks definitely aren’t for everyone (and most of the people in my immediate family do not see the value in them), but I have become better and more outwardly focused and service-oriented since I have started painting them. I even went to a rehab facility where my dear friend lived to paint with them there for a short time. I’m just grateful that God gave me this small way of connecting with and helping other people.
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| "Painting with Pembrooke" (my artwork, inspired by Pinterest) |
At Christmas, 2019, I painted so many rocks to give away to friends and family members. I invited our daughter, C, and all of her close friends (who I also know and love), over to our home for dinner and so they could do their gift exchange with each other. I even bought them all gifts, and wanted to give them each a rock that I had painted. I had C help choose which rocks to give to each friend, and then I wrapped them up in little packages. Our daughter was very adamant that one of her very best friends, K, should receive the rock I had painted that said “Follow your passion” on it. K is also my dear friend, and a friend to our family. He has spent a lot of time in our home, and I love him like one of my own children. I hoped that all of my daughter’s friends liked their gifts and painted rocks and knew that I loved and appreciated them for the being the good friends that they were to her.
Just a few weeks later, in the middle of the night, we received the tragic news that K had been murdered. He was shot in the back while he was out walking and talking on his cell phone with his sister. There aren’t words to express how devastated and sad we are. My daughter wanted to paint a special rock with one of K’s favorite things on it—palm trees—to share with K and his family. A week after the funeral, C, her roommate, and I drove to Utah to meet with K’s parents and spend the day with them. We went to lunch, and then K’s mom invited us over to their home. She explained that they had just “moved K in” that weekend, and took us into the room where he stayed when he was visiting his mom. Some of his personal possessions from his apartment in Nevada were still in boxes, and some were out on display. When we were in his room, C said, “Look, Mom! It’s your rock!” The “Follow your passion” rock I had given K for Christmas was sitting on the nightstand next to the bed. It was underneath the cute neon cactus lamp that my daughter had chosen as a birthday gift to K. That’s when I started sobbing. It seemed to me that the rock I had given K inspired him and meant something to him. I am so grateful I gave that rock to him, and I hope it brought him joy. C gave K’s mom the beautiful palm tree rock she had painted, and his mom placed it carefully next to the one I had painted. I am so grateful for the small things in this life that really aren’t small things at all—the seemingly simple kindnesses that literally change lives, and the humble gestures that strengthen and bind us together as people and spirits. I felt strongly that weekend that not only did K mean the world to us, but we were special to him, as well.
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| Pysanka designs on a rock! (My artwork, inspired by Pinterest) |
Just a few weeks later, in the middle of the night, we received the tragic news that K had been murdered. He was shot in the back while he was out walking and talking on his cell phone with his sister. There aren’t words to express how devastated and sad we are. My daughter wanted to paint a special rock with one of K’s favorite things on it—palm trees—to share with K and his family. A week after the funeral, C, her roommate, and I drove to Utah to meet with K’s parents and spend the day with them. We went to lunch, and then K’s mom invited us over to their home. She explained that they had just “moved K in” that weekend, and took us into the room where he stayed when he was visiting his mom. Some of his personal possessions from his apartment in Nevada were still in boxes, and some were out on display. When we were in his room, C said, “Look, Mom! It’s your rock!” The “Follow your passion” rock I had given K for Christmas was sitting on the nightstand next to the bed. It was underneath the cute neon cactus lamp that my daughter had chosen as a birthday gift to K. That’s when I started sobbing. It seemed to me that the rock I had given K inspired him and meant something to him. I am so grateful I gave that rock to him, and I hope it brought him joy. C gave K’s mom the beautiful palm tree rock she had painted, and his mom placed it carefully next to the one I had painted. I am so grateful for the small things in this life that really aren’t small things at all—the seemingly simple kindnesses that literally change lives, and the humble gestures that strengthen and bind us together as people and spirits. I felt strongly that weekend that not only did K mean the world to us, but we were special to him, as well.
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| Christmas gifts! (My artwork, inspired by Pinterest) |
That is why I paint Kindness Rocks. And that is why I will continue to paint them. I am so grateful for this kindness movement, and especially for our inspirational group, Kindness Rocks Chester and Montgomery County on Facebook. Art can speak where inadequate words fail.
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