Imagine your community intentionally uplifting each other, sharing support and radiating positive vibes, while still respecting physical distancing. Imagine the thrill of walking down your streets and local trails on a feel-good treasure hunt that you set into motion. Imagine inspiring those around you to get outside and move their bodies. Imagine showing your neighbors you care by providing playful ways to connect.

This experience is yours to create when you ROCK YOUR WALK. Join the mission to spread uplifting quotes, words of encouragement and positive affirmations to show the people in your neighborhood and community that they matter, they are not alone and that there is fun to be found, even during the COVID-19 crisis. 

The idea is a simple one- collect rocks, spruce them up a bit with positive messages using paint, decoupage or any other medium, and then leave them out for people to find as they take a walk. Leave a sign to let other’s in on the fun and watch your community spread the love!

I started this activity in my own neighborhood about three weeks ago (or was it three years ago… it seems harder and hard to tell these days). I have been pleasantly surprised by what has happened and how it has evolved. Let me start my observations by sharing that I am a social person by nature. As the impacts of coronavirus crept more and more into my daily experience, I began to search for ways to feel connected, both to my personal network of friends and family, as well as to my local community. For the record, physical distancing has been REALLY HARD. I was determined to get creative and find ways to play with those around me, even if we weren’t/aren’t able to interact in the same ways. ROCK YOUR WALK has been a fun and uplifting on-going activity, both for me and for my community.

In order to start ROCK YOUR WALK, the first step is to collect some flattish rocks. Simple enough. I first rummaged in my studio/office room to see if I had any leftover rocks from other projects. I generally have a stash of medium-sized, smooth rocks from the dollar store. Alas, no luck.  Not finding anything there, I decided that heading to the store wasn’t the best idea and that rocks are everywhere not to mention that if I collect them myself, they are free. The next stop was the beach. I live about 25 minutes from the New Hampshire coastline which also happens to be quite rocky. What I didn’t expect was how much I would enjoy the drive there and back. Just having a purpose to get in my car felt great, and then breathing in the fresh ocean air was so invigorating after so many days stuck in my house. It was also tons of fun hunting for rocks perfectly suited for the project- flat, smooth, and about the size of the palm of my hand.

Once I gathered several rocks (hot tip #1, get more than you think you will need), it was time to search for inspiration. I scoured old notebooks, scraps of paper and my bookshelf for words that spoke to me. It felt marvelous to comb through memories, quotes and ideas that have offered me inspiration at different points in my life. I knew I wanted to make SEVERAL rocks, so after I exhausted my personal stash, I turned to Pinterest. I also happen to love Pinterest, so I think I must have fallen down the Pinterest rabbit hole for two or three days, pinning all sorts of ideas. 

It was now time to dial up the creativity. I grabbed whatever supplies I already had on hand and experimented with different mediums, my favorite being cut out magazine words and paint pens. Here is where I learned. Hot tip #2- seal your work. Considering these rocks will be left outside, if you want your words and pictures to last, you’ll want to seal them from the weather. Another important observation-I was surprised at how forgiving this project was. If I made something that I didn’t like or didn’t look quite right, it was easy enough to paint over and start again. 

When my lovely (imperfect) rocks were ready, it was now time to start deciding where to leave them. I learned that I could only comfortably carry a few rocks at a time, which happily required me to go out on several different occasions. I walked in my neighborhood, on trails and in every (officially open) place I could think of. It being the weeks before Easter, I have to admit I felt quite a bit like the Easter Bunny, hiding treasures for others to find. It was so much fun deciding on “just the right place” for each rock. 

Another thing I noticed while leaving rocks out and about- if I casually dropped them within sight of anyone else also out walking, people started to comment, either on seeing other rocks I had already left or on what a wonderful idea it was. This has been a sneaky way to start new conversations (from at least 6 feet away of course) with people I’ve never met. I LOVE how this project has helped me get to know the people in my community better.

Not only has ROCK YOUR WALK been a feel-good experience for me, I have noticed the positive impact it has brought to my community. So many people are really struggling right now, for a myriad of reasons. I have noticed that some people need these uplifting messages big time, because many of them have been picked up and kept. At first, I was put off by this, wanting them left out for everyone to see. I then realized that if someone keeps a rock, they need those words enough to bring home as a reminder each day.

I can also tell that others have gotten into the playful spirit. Every time I walk along a route where I deposited rocks, mischievous people have enjoyed picking up rocks and moving them to other locations. Not only am I glad to see that people are engaging with my rocks (PLEASE WASH YOUR HANDS WHEN YOU GET HOME), it has been delightful for me to hunt for them myself, knowing that they aren’t always where I left them. 

Another thing I have noticed since leaving rocks around is that people have started actively paying more attention to the landscape. I live in a suburban neighborhood with a dog who loves to bark at the window, alerting me to look when people walk by. Before I started ROCK YOUR WALK, I generally saw the majority of people looking at their phones, talking on their phones or talking to someone right next to them. Now, I see so many more people actively checking the roadsides or other natural features in order to look for rocks. (I will admit I put several near my front window in order to see what would happen). 

Finally, one of the most exciting things I have noticed is that others have joined in and made rocks of their own. I have been finding rocks around that I did not make myself. This helps me to know that ROCK YOUR WALK speaks to other people in the community. They have enjoyed the playful spirit and decided to get in on the fun. After making this observation, I decided to lend a helping hand and encourage even more people to get involved. Remember all of those extra rocks? I set them in a central location for people to use along with a sign about the project, which you can grab here.

ROCK YOUR WALK has been an incredibly rewarding way to spend time giving back to others, that also happened to give back to me in unexpected ways. I hope that you will be inspired to join in. If you love this activity as much as I do, please share your own observations here on the blog, through email generationjoyful@gmail.com or with #generationjoyful