Special Messages and Secret Missions

This post that Andrea of HulaSeventy posted earlier this year was a reminder of this first post of hers that I read about guerilla art that has been on my to do list for about...five years. I love the way that woman approaches life. She's inspired me (and I'm sure many, many others) to keep an eye out for the special parts of life that are so easy to spot when we are young but that can be overlooked as we embrace our changing roles and responsibilities. I like that she lists simple pleasures, celebrates urban beauty, and uses photography to bring love and joy to herself and those her life touches. 

This weekend I decided it was time to introduce the kids to guerilla art in a similar way Andrea and her family did years ago. I sat the kids down with some paper and markers and sectioned off places for them to draw on for easy cutting. I told Sebastian to think about drawing something that would make someone happy like the sunshine or flowers so that's exactly what he did. Ruby drew a bunch of circles around circles and then I added little messages to their drawings. I then wrote out some affirmations that I knew I'd appreciate if I found them in a crack in a wall somewhere.

We copied, cut, folded, and headed downtown to see what would happen. I told the kids we were going to hide these messages for people to find and that they'd make them happy. They didn't really need more of an explanation and quickly discovered the kinds of nooks and cracks their little notes would fit into. Sebastian started asking if he could just hand them to people so I told him to go for it. He gave his first one to a little girl about his age and told her mama it was a secret message. He wasn't discouraged when people weren't interested and just moved on to the next. It was so fun to step back and see how much they enjoyed it and to realize we were doing something really good for our own family in the process regardless of how these notes were ever received.

It's my hope that many of these little notes will have stayed put until Monday morning. What better day of the week to find a surprise in your meter or on the floor as you open your shop for business? 

Thank you, Andrea, for inspiring our family to journey out of our comfort zone and interact with our town in a new way. It was good for our hearts.

Have you ever run across a secret message tucked in a corner or an affirming sticker in the ladies room? Have you ever left one of your own?

-Rachel

Comments

[Fiona]

What a seriously gorgeous thing to do! And both Sebastian and Ruby look so happy sharing their happiness with others.

[abby]

This is such a lovely thing to do! Especially with your family, what a wonderful and positive thing for them to do. I've not come across a message before, or left my own... but it is most definitely on my to-do list now.

Thank you for such an inspiring post!

[Amanda Rose]

This is such an inspirational post. What a great idea. I'm sure you made a huge difference in people's lives this week.

[Anna]

I absolutely love this idea! I am sure it would bring a little bit of sunshine in to an otherwise wintry November here in the UK.

[robyn]

Andrea is the best! I've wanted to do a project based on her sun project myself. My friend Rosa started a project "Found Art Tuesday" where she makes a piece of original artwork and then leaves it out in the world for other people to find. Aaaaand, your notes remind me of this site and video
http://littlehands-wgtn.tumblr.com/
where little bronze hands were installed all over the artist's city, and in the hands were placed little offerings (notes, flowers and even money). It's really cool and I wish they would sell those little hands. I know I'd buy a bunch to place in my own city.

[sara mae]

This is beautiful :) and such great timing - in the midst of voting, it's the small steps that create a better bigger picture. xo

[amanda (simplemittens)]

I LOVE that idea!

[Lindsay]

Adorable :) I've never found any guerilla art before. I'm planning on painting a painting this year, cutting it up and then sticking it in public places. It's on my 29 before 30 list: http://dailydoily.typepad.com/peaceloveandcupcakes/2012/09/29-before-30.html
♥Lindsay

[Lesley]

Ummm, WOW! You never cease to amaze and inspire me. What an awesome thing to do and to celebrate with your kids. You are nothing short of fabulous!

[ira lee]

how fun!!!! and a good lesson to them and to us who are reading- be nice!!!

[emily hassman]

Oh, my goodness, I just LOVE this!

[Andrea Lynne]

This is such a great idea!

http://madnessanmusings.blogspot.com/

[Skye]

Oh my gosh, so adorable! :)

[jennifer Camplin]

perfect... kids learn something for some one else life.

[Niki in Baltimroe]

What a fun and meaningful outing.
I carry a post-it pack in my purse to leave operation beautiful messages in bathrooms and i love to slip notes into books at the library.

[LARY@ Inspiration Nook]

Such a cute and cool idea!

[The Crafty Currant]

This is such an awesome idea. I bet the reciprocate really appreciate them!

[Heidi Larkin]

I love this idea too. I have done a similiar project and used post it notes with the operationbeautiful.com idea. My girls loved decorating the sticky notes and we placed then on neighbors doors, by mailboxes, and on cars. People thought it was amazing and so thoughtful. I love that a simple thoughtful note can totally make someones day, if not whole week. :) You and your family are lovely and I sure do look forward to your DIY projects and blog. Thank you for being you! :)

[andrea]

oh lady. thank you. thank you so much. you have made my day. xoxo

[cheryl denbow]

so proud of those grandbabies....great idea, Rach! you rock again:)

[Sara]

I have done a feature called 'Random Cards of Kindness' where I left a handmade card with a great little message on someone's car in a parking lot. It was a lot of fun to think it may have been just what that person needed to hear that day.

[Rachel]

That is the sweetest thing. I would love o find one of those.

Vintagehoneybee.blogspot.com

[Kelly b]

What a great time! Friends of mine founded Team Love in the Denver/Boulder area, and they too do random acts similar to this to spread the love :)
You can find Team Love on Facebook

[ruthie]

That's a great idea. I bet that made quite a few people smile :)

[naomi]

Oh, I love this post. I think it's about time I do another round of stickering and love notes. We're expecting a snow storm soon, so I think the timing might be perfect. :)

[Louise]

I have never heard of this , but will definatley give it
a go with my kids here in Australia , such a lovely thing to do
Thanks Rachel , I love your blog

[Hayley]

Love this! Definitely want to do this with my kids!

[Stephanie]

My best friend and I did some like this last year around Christmas. We bought a bunch of old postcards, and wrote kind sentiments on the back (much like you did). Then we put them in people's mailboxes. It might have been an act that we did more for our benefit, but I like to think the people who got those cards felt really good when they read them.

-Stephanie

[Laura]

This is the most beautiful, inspiring post I've seen Rachel, thank you for sharing. You're such an amazing mother for teaching your children to open their hearts to love. Xo

[dee]

how are you doing without your guy, Rachel? You rarely mention it, but I think of you often going solo. I think you're remarkable...in so many ways.
Anyway, just wanted to drop a quick comment here x