by Nickie Kromminga Hill

Have you heard of “Kindness Rocks?” Some people call them painted rocks or kindness stones, but they are essentially all the same thing: a painted rock with a kind saying or fun design painted on them, left out in the open for anyone to find.  Although it’s impossible to pin down the exact moment that Kindness Rocks were created (some believe this was the place that started it all https://www.thekindnessrocksproject.com/) one thing is certain, it is now a worldwide phenomenon. And why shouldn’t it be? Making kindness rocks is a relatively simple thing to do and finding them feels special.

I first heard about Kindness Rocks through my friend, Nika. Nika loves making and hiding rocks so much that she started her own Instagram and Facebook page called “This Life Rocks.” (http://facebook.com/thisliferocks) A few years ago, This Life Rocks and The Spread Sunshine Gang combined forces for a rock-painting event. This was my first time painting rocks, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I love using paint pens to craft a special message. I always think about who might find the rock I painted; will they pick it up and bring it home, or might they leave it there for someone else to find? Will their day shift toward the better, will it make them smile? With all the yuck that is going on in the world, does it really matter if I make this rock?

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Last summer I made myself go on a walk. I was having a really bad day. I was STRESSED OUT. There was too much to do and not enough time to do it. Too many emails and phone messages to respond to. Too many house chores to keep up with. Too much negative brain-chatter. None of it was super-important, but that didn’t change the fact that I wasn’t doing so hot and I wanted to make a change in my day. So, off I went to traverse my neighborhood in the hopes of changing my attitude. After a bit, I was reminded that there is a small labyrinth adjacent to a church near our home. I changed course and headed there; maybe the labyrinth could offer some respite from my non-stop, overanalytical brain?

When I arrived, I approached the beginning of the labyrinth, took a deep breath, and set my intention to “calm.” I was hopeful that I would slow my thoughts, find some peace, and leave the space feeling refreshed, renewed, and ready for the rest of the day. I walked slowly to the center, trying not to think at all (a challenge for me,) and I breathed deeply. Inhale, Exhale, step right, step left, over and over until I reached the center and sat down at the bench provided. I glanced down next to me, and there was a painted rock that said, “Let it be” with a heart on it. I giggled a bit at this wonderful gift the universe had given me. I became calm. I became grateful. I became peaceful. And all it took was a little rock.

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At times, well-meaning(?) friends and sometimes even strangers give me a little push-back about TSSG. That our “arts and crafts” and “Kindness Rocks” in particular aren’t providing any real change (to be fair, this rarely happens and typically we get nothing but support, but it does happen)  To those people, I say, “I disagree.” Do our rocks dismantle white supremacy? No. Do our rocks provide shelter to people experiencing homelessness? No. Do our rocks ensure that people have enough food to eat? No. We have events and conversations and resources that we provide that do those things, but making and distributing Kindness Rocks isn’t one of them. But that doesn’t mean they might not provide real change.

Nika has been making and distributing her rocks for years now. She has distributed her rocks all over the country, and some have even made it across the pond. Although I can’t say how life-changing it might be for whoever finds her rocks, I know that the rocks are affecting real change in her. She has used her rocks as a way to communicate with the world when the world feels scary and, in turn, she is now gaining more confidence in using her actual voice to speak up and out about the injustices of the world. Additionally, you should see this family she gets to grow up in, they are THE BEST and so supportive of one another and especially Nika. Because these rocks have changed Nika’s life, they’ve changed the entire family’s lives, thereby affecting real change. Change in how they view the world and change in how they engage in the world. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows, they are human beings and have had major crap thrown at them, but for the most part, they go through life with gratitude and ACTION.

Five people going out into the world being change-makers, and all because of some rocks. And maybe a couple of other reasons, too 🙂

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Finding the Let it be rock changed my day. Can I say it changed my life? Who’s to say?

What about the dozens of families who contact me every year saying, “Hey! We had never painted rocks before we met you but now we are! Our kids love to give them to their friends!” Or the friend who texts, “I found this rock at the gas station today and it made me smile! Did you make it?” (I didn’t, and YAY that so many people love painting rocks!) Or how about the woman on the community Facebook page that said, “I was so bummed out about quarantine that I took myself on a solo walk to the nature center and someone had left a bunch of painted rocks with fun messages on them! Thank you, stranger! You made my day!”

Small gestures equal big impact.

Yes, it matters if I make a rock.

Will these rocks change the world? Probably not. But they can (and have!) changed someone’s day. And that’s a really great place to start, don’t you think?