Cooperative Living October 2017 - 16

c 0 v e rs t 0 ry I Story and Photos by Laura Emery, Field Editor
N
earing a bend in the park's wellworn
trail, Carol F. had no idea that
she would encounter something
that would alter the course of her life.
Resting on a nearby stump was a small
blue object illuminated by the sun's early
morning rays. " It was almost as though it
was highlighted for me to see at that very
moment, " Carol says, describing the scene
in the quiet park on that warm, humid
July morning.
Upon closer inspection, Carol realized it
was a rock, one with a black semicolon
carefully painted on its bumpy surface
against a backdrop of bright-blue paint.
She was vaguely familiar with
Project Semicolon, a global non-profit
movement dedicated to preventing
suicide. This initiative uses the popular
punctuation mark in its awareness
campaigns, explaining that it represents
a sentence the author could have ended,
but chose not to.
It wasn't a perfect rock by any means.
Parts of the anonymous artist's original
strokes had started to fade in the harsh
summer sun. The craggy rock was
perfectly imperfect -
just like its
unexpected new owner.
Her discovery couldn't have been better
timed. " It was as though the painter knew
the thoughts going
through my head, "
she says.
ROCK ART BY:
TANYA WILLIAMSON,
JESSICA WILKINSON
Project Semicolon is a global non-profit
movement dedicated to preventing
suicide. This initiative uses the popular
punctuation mark in its awareness
campaigns, explaining that a semicolon
represents a sentence the author could
have ended, but chose not to.
As Carol, a member of Northern
Virginia Electric Cooperative, held her
newfound treasure, a sense of relief
overwhelmed her.
" The rock encouraged me to keep
going -
and reminded me that a little
kindness goes a long way. It feels silly
to admit it, but that rock changed
everything for me, " she says.
Carol would later discover more about
the rock she'd slipped in her pocket that
morning. It was part of a national
phenomenon quickly gaining popularity
from the Eastern Shore to far
Southwestern Virginia, as well as across
the country. Before that morning, she'd
known nothing about it. " I guess
I was living under a rock, "
she jokes.
Though the goals may
vary slightly with each
area of Virginia, the
overall message is
simple: kindness rocks.
Hundreds of communities
14 I Cooperative Living I October 2017
served by electric cooperatives have started
online groups committed to painting and
hiding rocks, with the sole purpose of
spreading a little joy through these
unexpected artistic treasures.
The idea originates
from The Kindness
Rocks Project5M,
an
effort started in
Cape Cod to
encourage random
acts of kindness.
Just as each rock
is unique in size,
shape and texture - so,
too, are the themes painted on
them. The designs can be striking, ranging
from superheroes and food-inspired rocks
to intricately painted sunsets and animals.
Some are painted with words and
expressions of love, joy and
encouragement, while others aim to draw
awareness to a specific cause, cancer or
condition. But for every ornate, creative or
clever work of art hidden, there is always
one lovingly smeared in splashes of color
or gobs of glitter by little hands.
These painted rocks are placed around
the community in parks, playgrounds, gas
stations, tourist spots, libraries, shopping
centers and other popular family-friendly
spots. Once found, the finder is free to
keep or re-hide the rock for someone else
to enjoy. Each rock has a message on the
side opposite the painting, asking the
person who finds it to post the colorful
and creative find on the local rock group's
Facebook or Instagram page. The rock's
painter can then see who found the rock.
For Mary Walters of Chesterfield, it's
about much more than rocks. Her 8-yearold
daughter, Jenna, suffers from ataxia
(lack of voluntary coordination of muscle
movements) in both legs and has been in
physical therapy for many years. " When
she was younger, I would take her on long
walks to strengthen her legs, " she explains.
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Cooperative Living October 2017

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