Many, many months ago, I wrote a post about ‘penguin-pebbling’ (here). It’s a lovely little bit of romance-rizz where a penguin creates an attractive pile of rocks to woo his intended love interest… or any love interest… I’m not sure if penguins mate for life… or how flirty they are…
More recently, I wrote a post Doodle your pain away. My blog-friend, the lovely Barbara (aka ghostmmnc) replied by saying that she turns her doodles into bookmarks and leaves them in random places for people to find, keep and enjoy. She sent me a link to her blog to show me the sorts of bookmarks she makes – and included in the post were some painted rocks that she also makes, and then hides throughout her hometown:
[Image source: Random Post # 14 – Current Crafts | teleportingweena]
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I absolutely LOVE the idea of making art – and – rather than clinging to it, just letting it go… no… not ‘just’ letting it go – letting it go with the full intention of it becoming a treasure that will delight someone else!
How fabulous!
In my mind, I’m not sure if I would pick up a painted rock I found… I would worry that it was someone else’s special rock… perhaps misplaced… and that they might come back for it… I’m not sure what that says about me, but regardless, I would see the painted treasure and smile at the small rock and its big personality and let it rest for others to oh and ah over.
It got me thinking about my own ‘rock collection’. In a post from 2024: The Art of Distraction, I photographed a sewing craft I made, with a small collection of rocks beside it (the large one has a perfectly flat base which I love, and then there’s two almost completely circular round pebbles on a stone plinth that’s almost so perfectly flat and square it could be a mosaic tile (maybe it is?)):
I also discovered an old photo of my daughter clutching a ‘pet-rock’ that Grandad had found on the family farm and drawn eyes and ears onto to make it look like a tailless mouse, or perhaps a teeny-tiny guinea pig:
I don’t know where that pet-rock ended up… but I do know that I (and my extended family) still collect rocks with spots and dots and dashes… and enjoy the simple (mindful) pleasure of keeping your eyes peeled for the small treasures Mother Nature gifts us.
There is something so lovely about the idea of finding a special rock – and then giving it away – ‘pebbling’ it to your loved one, or leaving it somewhere obvious for people to enjoy… I liked the idea so much so… I was motivated to make one of my own. I don’t have pretty paint that will withstand rain, so I used a marker pen to write “you rock” on a rock – it’s not as lovely as Barbara’s art, but hopefully it still catches someone’s attention and lifts their spirits.
Here’s my you-rock-art beside my ever-present-touchstone that lives on my desk and says “Believe” (the middle photo is giving me accidental GOT vibes TBH), as well as a picture of the new affirmation rock rehomed onto a larger rock at the local park:
[Image source: me]
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[I’ll be honest and say that as I put pen to rock, I panicked a bit. As a trained architect, graffiti is one of my pet peeves – I can’t stand people who deface buildings… so as I wrote the words on the rock, I had a moment of self-disgust; who was I to damage this natural beauty? Jury’s still out on whether I’ve fully recovered…]
Overall, I really love the spirit of generosity that comes from giving things away – not because you no longer need it, but because you think another person might need it more.
That’s what love is, I guess.
Take care out there pebbly-peeps, of yourself & each other,
Linda xox
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PS – I’ll visit the park over the new few days / posts and give you updates on the status of the “you rock” rock, and whether it gets picked up or not.
PPS – last year I mentioned a new text-sign-off that I love; a pom-pom-woo-hoo that perfectly channels my cheerleading vibes:
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Well, Barbara’s blog uses another that I’m also now very fond of – a lovely little butterfly:
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Thanks to all of you, who each in your own way, fill the world with your clever quirky creative kindness – you all make me smile!
: )
The Mindful Migraine 
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