Have you ever experienced a moment when the universe seemed to send you a sign of support just when you needed it? It’s a feeling that can be quite enchanting. In these challenging times, a touch of magic—or at least something uplifting—can brighten our days, even if just for a fleeting moment.
Enter the Kindness Rock Project. I stumbled upon this initiative several months back, designed to spread joy through simple acts of kindness. The premise is straightforward: paint some rocks in vibrant colors, inscribe an uplifting message or whimsical doodle, and leave them in various spots for others to find. This seemed like a delightful concept, especially for our lively neighborhood in downtown Chicago. So, my spirited five-year-old son and I gathered some rocks and began painting.
After our creative session, we placed our colorful creations by the front door, eager to sprinkle a bit of joy into the world. However, life got busy—between work, school, and our everyday commitments, those “magic rocks” remained untouched for four long months. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic turned our lives upside down, halting everything we knew.
Amid lockdown, with social distancing in full effect, we finally ventured outdoors to distribute our rocks. The day after the stay-at-home order was enacted in Chicago, my son looked at me with a puzzled expression and said, “Everything just feels… odd?” I couldn’t have agreed more.
“Shall we take a walk and find places for our magic rocks?” I suggested. “Sure, I guess,” he replied, nonchalantly. And so, we began our quest to share some joy.
“Alright, where should we put them?” I asked, prompting him to think. He pondered for a moment before declaring, “Let’s walk until it feels right.” Being only five, it took him all of four steps to declare, “This is our first rock! Let the revolution begin!” I cheered as he placed the inaugural stone.
As we strolled the familiar three blocks to his best friend’s house, this time felt distinct. Leaving a trail of joyful rocks behind us transformed our mundane walk into something special. We tucked our painted stones in unique spots, including Hudson’s top three, which he proudly left in his buddy’s yard.
In the ensuing days, my only reprieve from the confines of our house was those daily walks. I habitually retraced our rock path, and to my delight, I soon noticed something remarkable—the rocks seemed to multiply! I rushed home to share my discovery with my husband and son.
“Guys! There are more rocks! I saw a ‘Thank You, Healthcare Workers’ and even some rainbows, and they’re not ours! It’s the magic of the rocks!” They responded with a collective “Cool.”
The excitement didn’t stop there. One lovely evening, I observed an elderly couple walking together. The wife suddenly stopped, her eyes lighting up as she discovered one of our rocks in a flowerbed. She called her husband back to share the joy, and his initial annoyance transformed into a smile as they walked away arm in arm. Curious, I crossed the street to confirm my suspicions, and indeed, it was one of our painted treasures—a purple rock inscribed with “You Matter.”
The following morning, I witnessed a woman pick up one of our rocks, tucking it into her pocket. It appeared to belong to her now, and I hoped it would bring her joy. Soon after, I noticed more rocks vanishing, leaving me to wonder if they were finding their way into the right hands.
Then came the ultimate affirmation of our small movement—a neighbor shared a link to our community blog, praising whoever was placing these rocks around the neighborhood. As I perused the comments, I found images of the rocks people had discovered and even requests for the “Rock Fairy” to visit specific streets. Others expressed interest in organizing rock hunts for their children, while some offered to contribute their own creations.
One comment stood out: a woman wrote about a rock left right in front of her house, as if it was a special gift meant solely for her.
Though my son eventually lost interest in the project, my passion for painting rocks flourished. I became more personal with my messages, leaving behind cheerful notes like “You’re Amazing!” at the local playground and “Stay Strong” in front of a neighbor’s whimsical garden decoration.
Every morning, I would embark on my walks with pockets full of rocks. Even when the world felt heavy, placing each rock lightened my spirit a little more. Upon returning home, I felt a renewed sense of gratitude and purpose, a feeling that embodies true magic.
Just last night, I stumbled upon three beautifully painted rocks left for me. Picking them up felt like discovering a treasure, a reminder that kindness connects us all, especially in these isolating times.
To all who read this: you are not alone. Kindness can indeed bridge the gaps between us, no matter the circumstances.
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Summary
In a time of crisis, a mother and her son embarked on a project to spread joy through painted rocks, discovering community connection and kindness amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their initiative inspired local residents to join in, creating a “Rock Fairy” movement that brightened their neighborhood.
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