I am often delighted and amazed by what the world brings. There are some angry and disconnected people out there, but many more people who are loving and good, given the chance.

I got a painted rock in the mail yesterday from someone in New York State (a woman, I’d guess), it was from an anonymous member of a worthy group called the (#dunkirkrocks/kindness project), an organization of people – in Dunkirk, New York, apparently  – who paint rocks and hide them around their city, hopefully to be found and create joy to the recipients.

What a generous and meaningful idea.

“After painting hundreds of rocks and hiding them all over the city (ATM machines, the library, top of gas pumps, on picnic tables, etc.), I decided to paint a rock for every house in my neighborhood. I’ve done 56 rocks so far, each one reflecting some item of interest at the house where I leave the rock. I may cop their flower beds, the type of tree they have, interesting fencing, maybe a likeness of their dog or cat. I find the act of anonymously placing a small hand-crafted gift at someone’s house to be extremely pleasurable for me. I always leave a message on the back of the rock thanking them for being great neighbors. I believe people live up to (or down to) other’s expectations. I read your blog about getting a sweater for Gus – my immediate reaction, “this man deserves a rock,” so here you go. “You rock.”   – The Rock Painter.

Thank you Rock Painter, I love the rock and will add it to my collection of totems and muses and symbols by my computer.

I hope that getting Gus a sweater is one of the least meaningful things I will do this year – it is as close to a no-brainer as I can get in the cold weather  – but I do appreciate it and  love the idea  of the anonymous rock very much.

It reminds me a bit of our Little Free Library, another grass-roots resurgence of community in our fractured and divided country. I love the rock and the colors and it a lovely idea, I hope it spreads. Acknowledging and appreciating people is a simple thing to do, and it has so much meaning for the people who are acknowledged.

In our culture, we all feel small and neglected sometimes, it is quite uplifting to be appreciated. It brings us together, one of the uniquely human things we can do for one another.

The rock will inspire me to do the same, and I appreciate it, Dear Rock Painter. Love And Compassion To You, and hopefully, much acknowledgement.