Blank Canvas

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 Rock Garden on the Beach

Made a trip to Ventura for a beach walk recently. Along a certain stretch of our usual route, there seemed to be a different creative energy. The familiar rock structures were present, but they had multiplied in groups and they were joined by a scattering of large painted rocks at the base of several trees. 

Moving on, we found the newest addition to my blank canvas series. A "Memorial and Kindness Rock Garden" had been carefully arranged in a raised planter along the sidewalk. This elevates the garden, so you can't walk by the area without noticing these colorful little gems. 

On the kindness garden side, beach goers are invited to take a rock that speaks to them or to brighten someone's day by sharing one and spreading kindness.  


At the other end, memorial rocks have been lovingly displayed to honor those who are no longer with us. In this section the rocks are meant to be a lasting tribute; the surfaces have been designed to include names, dates, some symbols, and messages or verses.  

Not only is this a colorful form of personal expression and creativity, but it is a gift to those who take the time to appreciate it. Stopping to read the messages, taking a moment to appreciate the lives that are memorialized, gives one a lot to ponder while soaking in the therapeutic sound of the surf nearby.

(Check out the "Blank Canvas" label of this blog for my on-going effort to document examples of creativity in unexpected places.) 



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