Color The World With Kindness

2020 was a tough year, it’s was challenging for so many families, mine included. I promise this isn’t one of those woes me stories, instead it is one of creativity, hope and love. I promise lol. I am an event planner/ party planner and own my own business in Las Vegas, naturally there were no events so I was literally going insane!

As I watched my paint dry out I started to get frustrated, because man paint ain’t cheap. I had so much left over paint from the last event I decorated and I couldn’t come up with anything cleaver to do with it. So packed it away and said a silent prayer, Covid needs to disappear already!

My daughter asked me one day, mom do you still have your paint or did you get ride of them all? My eyes brighten as I asked her what she needed it for. She explained that her community started this rock painting group to give hope to those who are suffering in silence and are alone during quarantine.

As I un packed all my paint and brushes, I came up with a brilliant idea. Since I am an artist by trade, I decided to paint beautiful images and sign the rocks ARIOS. On the back I could write a inspirational quote or saying. I didn’t even tell my daughter what I was doing, she kinda has a big mouth and I wanted to keep it a secret as long as I could.

I decided to paint 6 rocks a week as part of a series, and hide them throughout the community. The first set I painted were of hummingbird. As the finders started finding them and posting them on our community Facebook people started asking who is ARIOS? I would giggle and work on the next set for the following week. This went on for 2 months.

Until one day my daughter asked me if I heard about the mystery Picasso going by the name of ARIOS? I asked her if she found any of the rocks yet? That I have heard of the rock artist why? She gives me a death stare and I do my best not to look her in the eyes. She slowly walks over to me, like a lion about to pounce. She pulls a rock out of her pocket and gives it to me. I was like ooohhh so pretty. She says mom you know I signed your name enough in high school that I know your hand writing anywhere right!?! I was caught like a deer in head lights, she knew it was me. I beg her to keep her big mouth shut and of course she didn’t!

Later that day I am strolling my Facebook feed and I see a post that catches my eye. In bold letter.

FYI : MY COMMUNITY HAS A PAINTED ROCK GROUP. EVERYONE HAS BEEN GOING CRAZY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO THIS MYSTERY PICASSO IS. 😂😂😂 I JUST FOUND OUT IT IS MY MOM! IM DEAD ! How did she keep it a secret for so long!

What could I do everyone would know it was me and I couldn’t keep it a secret anymore. So I introduce myself to the group. This all happened around May of 2020. Who knew my small act of kindness would have such an effect on those who found my rocks.

I started painting for our community and surrounding communities. I would leave a painted rock on the porch of someone who was going through a difficult time. I started getting requests for memorial rocks, rocks for first responders, and nurses. My kindness rocks has made its way to, California, Utah, Arizona, Texas, Washington, Kansas, North Dekota, Virginia, Hawaii, Guam and Korea. I am a Reiki Practitioner so I always say a prayer of love, light and healing for those who are given a rock or for the person who finds one.

As we are starting to see a lift and outdoor events are somewhat allowed. I am hosting an event for the kids in the community. To celebrate simply being a kid and seriously just having fun. We are going to have a POKÉMON GO hunt this month. I don’t get why the kids do crazy for them, I am just grateful to see the smiles and hearing the laughter again.

My take away from all of this is, kindness is free, why not color the world with it. If you are able to make a difference to even one person, then make a difference! What are you waiting for? You don’t need to be asked, if you see a way to be a positive influence don’t think just do.

I know that I am supposed to write about my craft.

My craft is creating smiles, hugs, laughter, kindness and hope.

The end