Inspiring kindness during tough times

 If you walk past Pat Morrissey’s house on West Dodge Street in Port Washington, you will find a small basket filled with colorfully painted stones decorated with inspiring messages.

The messages are simple but profound — “Shine,” “Hello,” “You’re Perfect Just the Way You Are,” “Human. Kind. Be Both,” and “Dare to Dream” to quote a few.

People passing by are invited to take a rock if they need inspiration, and they are asked to return and place a decorated rock of their own in the basket for others.

“We’re just trying to find ways to make connections,” Morrissey said. “I think that’s what is going to get us through this (coronavirus pandemic).”

The rocks were created by young adults involved in the Walking the Labyrinth peer support group that Morrissey runs.

The group, which started in Port Washington, is aimed at helping people dealing with mental health issues.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Morrissey said, the group of about 10 people ranging in age from 19 to 29 have been meeting via Zoom, but they wanted to do something more to help themselves and others cope.

“They felt that if we pay it forward, we might all help each other feel better about the times,” Morrissey said. “This (pandemic) has just added so much angst and isolation.”

Random acts of kindness fit the bill. Morrissey suggested a number of different opportunities, and a group of members from the Port area decided to take on the rock-painting project.

They got together and, while being socially distant, painted the rocks and decorated them, making about 100 painted rocks in a couple hours.

“They had to get creative,” Morrissey said. “They found inspirational messages and they decorated the rocks to illustrate them.”

The illustrations, she said, range from simple to blinged out with “gems” that were glued on.

For example, one rock read “You belong among the wildflowers” and was decorated with painted flowers.

Another read “The moon reminds me you are still whole no matter what phase you’re in” and was decorated with a crescent moon.

“Bee kind” read yet another with a bee painted on it.

“They are beautiful,” Morrissey said. “The messages are important. The group really wanted to inspire others and help themselves.

“It’s a really relaxing project and it’s fun. This is something for people of all ages — there’s so much joy they’re able to give and receive from this.”

The fact the rocks, which have been sealed to preserve the messages, are set out for anyone to take if they need a hand, is also important, Morrissey said.

“It’s just a way to remind each other that life is worth living and we’re each an important part of that life,” she said. “These messages of inspiration are beautiful. Take a rock if you need encouragement, and when you feel like it, come back and put in a rock of your own.”