A worldwide movement is encouraging people to stop and look around a bit, for one may never know where an inspirational word may be found.
The Kindness Rocks Project started with the idea to spread inspiration and a moment of kindness for unsuspecting recipients with rocks adorned with inspirational paintings, quotes and words.
According to the project website, it all began with Megan Murphy. On the website, she writes: “Now more than ever kindness can become a connecting force for good. Many people, including myself, are feeling a sense of overwhelm, unease and restlessness due to the current events taking place in our world today, and I believe that our united strength can be cultivated through simple random acts of kindness. Each of us can make a positive difference. Together we can make a positive impact.”
It began when Murphy lost her parents at a young age, which is who she turned to when she needed advice. So she began looking for “signs.” On one of her walks, she wondered if other people also look around for signs as well.
Then Murphy began painting rocks to leave for people to find as a “sign” with an encouraging word or picture on it.
Now, locals are getting in on the action with the start of Hattiesburg Rocks, Oak Grove Rocks and Purvis Pebbles Facebook pages. Bristles art studio in Oak Grove offered a paint party on Wednesday afternoon to encourage Lamar County residents to get involved.
Owner and local artist Lissa Ortego said she first found out about the project through a family member.
“My sister in Tennessee first told me about it and said, ‘You should do that in your area,’” she said.
Ortego said she has painted plenty of rocks in the past and even has included that as part of her art class before.
“It’s such a fun little project, but we never had the scavenger hunt element to it before,” she said.
Now she paints batches of rocks to drop at random locations as part of the Kindness Rocks project.
Residents who drop rocks in places can leave clues on any of the previously mentioned Facebook pages. Those who find a decorated rock should post their found rock on Facebook so that the creator can see.
All Bristles art students will paint rocks the first week of their lessons. Many other groups in the Pine Belt have also gotten in on the action.
Ortego said the key is not hiding the rocks, but leaving them in plain sight for people to find easily.
Most rocks have been placed outside of businesses or doctor’s offices or other public places.
As for painting the rocks, the possibilities are endless.
“I usually look at my rock and see what picture is hiding in it, kind of like a cloud,” Ortego said. “I painted one with palm trees, just because I thought that is what fit the shape of the rock.”
Ortego said she has not yet found any rocks, but that she paints hers in batches to place them. So far, she has bought around 100 rocks.
Ortego said she has used glitter and gold leaf to add something different to some of her paintings.
“I try to make rocks to fit a wide range of people,” she said.
For those who decide to paint rocks to place around the community, Ortego offers some advice.
“Always use acrylic paint and be sure to use a sealer,” she said. She added that it could be spray or brush on. The goal is to keep the painting protected in case it takes a while for someone to find it and the sealer will protect the picture.
The movement has spread all across the country and across the world to countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Ireland, India, Thailand, Haiti, Italy and England.
For more information, visit thekindnessrocksproject.com.
