Mood Swing

Hi everybody.

How are you? 

I have to tell you that things did not get off to a good start this morning. It's just a lot, all of this stuff. And usually walking helps me, but the humidity has just been so oppressive that walks haven't worked quite as well lately. 

Anyway, I left the house this morning in a funk, and just kind of started wandering around downtown. There wasn't much to take pictures of, and I couldn't think of a "theme." 

Then, I walked past this kindness rock garden. It's in a churchyard downtown that I pass by regularly, and it used to have lots of happy little colorful painted rocks in it, but it's been empty for ages. Void of all signs of kindness and joy. A metaphor for something, I guess.

But then I remembered reading on Facebook or in the paper or somewhere about another kindness rock garden in our town, and I decided that a visit to THAT place was probably exactly what I needed. So, I stopped to get some iced coffee, went back home, and got in my car. 

You guys. 

Walking up to this place on this cloudy dreary morning was shocking in the same way as when the Wizard of Oz turns from black and white to color. 

There are painted rocks, a free library, a little house that is a "mercantile" where you can take or leave puzzles and games, a park bench with all kinds of inspirational quotes...it is magical. 

Then there is a wish tree. 

If you are having a rough time, and you happen to be local, go visit this place and stand under this tree for a while and read these wishes.

Some of them are what you might expect.

Me too!

Same.

This next one broke me into a million pieces.

But then this one made me laugh out loud.

Anyway, I put my own wish on the tree and then stayed there and looked at stuff until I could no longer deal with the mosquitoes. I'll go back again next time I need a boost. What a treat.

While I was there, I met the lady who made the garden. She was out there cleaning the park bench. I bet she does that every morning. The place is immaculately clean and shiny. 

Then I started thinking about other people in our town who do things like this (although not necessarily on as large a scale).

Mabel's Biscuit Cafe is at a house on Liberty Street, and it always has plenty of treats and water for dogs.

There's this free dog library on South King Street.

Of course, we can't forget my neighbor Greg's weekly advice or encouragement.

And there's the Flower Lady. I'm not sure how long she has been putting flowers outside in her driveway for people to pick up, but she has a donation box beside them for Loudoun Hunger Relief, and she has just recently passed the $200,000 mark. She gives every single bit to help food insecure people. Imagine that. 

I have a job now and I got my first paycheck a couple of days ago, so I stopped and got some flowers from this lady this morning to cap off my quest to cheer myself up. 

It worked. I'm feeling so much better. 

And I'm inspired. 

What can I do? What can you do? It doesn't have to be a big huge crazy garden. It could be anything, really. Be thinking.

Onward.