How Something Simple Can Encourage Another Person?

Summary

The author shares their experience of finding hand-painted rocks with encouraging messages on a community walking trail and how it inspired them.

Abstract

The author enjoys hiking and discovered hand-painted rocks with encouraging messages on a community walking trail. These rocks were placed by thoughtful individuals to brighten the day of those who find them. The author took pictures and shared their experience on Facebook. The author reflects on how this simple act of kindness from strangers sharpened them, as the saying goes, "As iron sharpens iron." The author encourages readers to consider doing a small act of kindness to encourage someone else.

Opinions

The author enjoys hiking as a simple activity for their physical and mental health.
The author appreciates the thoughtfulness of the individuals who placed the hand-painted rocks on the trail.
The author found the rocks to be colorful, playful, and enjoyable to find.
The author was inspired by the act of kindness from strangers and felt sharpened by it.
The author encourages readers to consider doing a small act of kindness to encourage someone else.
The author shared their experience on Facebook and encouraged others to connect with them.
The author originally published the article on their website, DoWhatYouCanNow.com.

The story of a little thing that encouraged me.

As Iron Sharpens Iron, is one of my favorite sayings. It comes from a verse in the book of Proverbs, chapter 27, verse 17.

As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

This has happened to me many, many times in my life as friends have sharpened me but recently I was sharpened by some people I don’t even know!

I LOVE to hike. Whether it’s a path on my property, a trail at a State Park or sidewalks in a neighborhood, I’m always looking for a good place to get my steps in. It’s something simple I can do for my physical and mental health.

One of the places I love to hike is a community walking trail a few miles from my house. As I pleasantly discovered the other day, people are using it for something besides walking.

One of the mile markers for the community trail I hike on.

When I was there with my boys the other day, we noticed colorful rocks in trees, on rails and even by fire hydrants along the trail. Obviously out of place, we started investigating. What we discovered was some very thoughtful people had placed hand-painted rocks for others to find.

These little rocks made our hike even more enjoyable. They are colorful and playful and usually have an encouraging message written on them. And they’re REALLY fun to find.

On the back of these rocks is an address to a Facebook Group. People are encouraged to take a picture and post it when they find one. I took some pics and made a quick little video of my experience and shared it on Facebook.

There are so many ways to sharpen someone. I don’t know the people who created these little gems but their thoughtfulness sharpened me.

Daily Doable: What little thing can you do to encourage someone else? As this story illustrates, it doesn’t have to be for someone you know to be effective. And it could be as simple as painting a rock.

Do What You Can Now!

This Inspire Point was brought to you by Tim Maudlin. I’m an Author, Storyteller, Graphic Designer and Inspire Point Writer. I would love to connect with you. Please see the comments on how to connect with me.

This article was originally published on my site at DoWhatYouCanNow.com