A Pebble for Your Thoughts. Megan Murphy

      Introduction

      As I stumble through this life,

      help me create more laughter than tears,

      dispense more happiness than gloom,

      spread more cheer than despair.

      Never let me become so indifferent,

      that I will fail to see the wonders in the eyes of the child.

      Or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged.

      Never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people,

      make them feel happy, and forget momentarily,

      all the unpleasantness in their lives.

      And in my final moment,

      may I hear you whisper:

      “When you made my people smile,

      you made me smile.”

      “The Clown’s Prayer,” Author Unknown

      How it all began…

      What started as the simple hobby of one, has now turned into an international grassroots kindness movement of many. Now, more than ever, people are longing for kindness and connection. During these uncertain times, we are inundated with daily news reports that focus on unsettling events and these images evoke a sense of fear and unease. I personally became affected by this when I began each day bombarded with negativity while watching the morning news, which I subconsciously carried with me throughout the day. As a result, I grew increasingly more pessimistic and apprehensive of others.

      That is when I made the conscious decision to turn off the morning news and substitute it with daily morning walks on the beach. My outlook began to change almost immediately, and I discovered my yearning for inner peace. That is where my journey began and where The Kindness Rocks Project was born. I wanted to share my newfound positive outlook with others. I dared to dream that maybe, just maybe, I could make a difference and inspire others to do the same.

      I began painting simple inspirational messages on rocks and dropping them along the beach on my morning walks. In the beginning, the messages were brief: “you got this,” “the answer lies within,” or “follow your heart.” I had no idea if anyone would ever find one of these messages. However, I had hopes that if they did, it would be viewed as a positive message that was meant just for them, or the sign they needed at just the right moment.