Summer Project

Have you heard of:

Guerilla art?
Geocaching?
Pokémon Go?
Kindness Rocks?

I recently learned about the latter and soon realized that it's very much like a combination of the others on that list.  Here's how it works:

You paint rocks, often adding an encouraging message. You identify them on the back with a hashtag to a local group. Then you go out and hide them. When someone finds one, they photograph it and post it to the Facebook group it has been tagged with. Then they rehide the rock for someone else to find and enjoy.

In our area there are two Facebook groups you can join: Columbia Rocks, and HoCo Rocks.

Here's more information about the Kindness Rocks Project:

GOAL #1: INSPIRE OTHERS THROUGH RANDOMLY PLACED ROCKS ALONG THE WAY…

GOAL #2: RECRUIT EVERY PERSON WHO STUMBLES UPON IT TO JOIN IN THE PURSUIT OF INSPIRING OTHERS THROUGH RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

I had a rock painting party with my daughters this week. Take a look at the variety of  our creations:

This morning we're going out for a walk in one of Columbia's beautiful natural spots to hide a few. That was a part of my plan, you see: getting us out walking together. I'm hoping to use this experience to kick off a new family tradition. Who knows? Maybe the family that paints rocks together walks together? It's a start.

Here are some of my rocks.

  

In addition to the group hashtag, the creator can add an individual hashtag to give the rock a personal touch. I decided to tag these with #choose2Bkind , which is the theme for Howard County's Choose Civility project this year. You can learn more about A Year of Kindness here.

Now, if you are out and about and find a rock that really speaks to you, by all means, feel free to keep it. It may be just the thing to keep on your desk or bedside table or next to your coffeemaker that makes you smile and helps get you through the day. But you can pass along that act of kindness by painting and placing a rock of your own. 

If rock painting is not your thing, take a look at this month's Random Acts of Civility calendar for some other ideas for you and your family to #choose2Bkind .