Between a rock and a kind place: GreenFields shares the love

"In a world that needs more kindness, this is something we can all do," said GreenFields of Geneva SeniorFITness specialist Kristin O'Connor. She is referring to the kindness rock garden that the senior living community is among the first in the Chicago area to implement.

Inspired by Massachusetts resident Megan Murphy, founder of the international Kindness Rocks Project (recently featured in Oprah Winfrey's O magazine) and a personal friend of her cousin, O'Connor suggested "planting" a garden of smooth river stones painted with bright colors and uplifting messages for others to take or add to. Holly Ruge, GreenFields' SeniorFITness training program specialist, and other staff jumped on the idea.

So did many residents. As part of GreenFields' first Senior Fitness Recognition Week in July, honoring their participation in the community's numerous activities and programs, seniors had the opportunity to create rocks of their own at a painting party. Some of their messages were encouraging ("my buddy makes me smile"); some paid homage to their well-known witticisms: "If I were any better, I'd be twins."

"It was really interesting to see what people wrote," said O'Connor, whose children joined residents in painting rocks. It was also surprising and inspiring, she said, because some residents who are normally quiet and reserved really opened up in the process of sharing their thoughts and ideas for the rocks.

After about 100 of the stones were painted, they were arranged in a garden near the community's entrance and other places around the GreenFields campus. In September, the garden was revealed to much fanfare, including a "Rock Out" party with music, dancing and refreshments.

"We were trying to brainstorm ideas that would be fun for our residents as well as a good bonding experience for everyone," said Ruge. Mission accomplished, as the painting project brought residents and staff from all areas of GreenFields and their families together in an intergenerational effort to spread kindness. And it hasn't stopped.

Just as the Kindness Rocks Project encourages people all over the world to engage in random acts of kindness by sharing the benevolent rocks, the GreenFields project is an ongoing endeavor whereby residents can make, plant and take them as they please. Future GreenFields events are likely to center upon the rock garden project as well.

Anticipating that other senior communities may follow GreenFields' example, Ruge and O'Connor hope to lead residents on walking tours of other gardens in the area. The initiative also has great potential for school classrooms visiting GreenFields to join residents in creating rocks and for thoughtful people to place them on the shelves outside residents' apartments as a "pick me up," remarked O'Connor.

"This program lends itself to so many opportunities to come together as a community," said Ruge, whose 13-year career in senior care has focused on fostering good quality of life. Remarked O'Connor, a former teacher-turned-senior fitness specialist, "I love to tap into things that make seniors light up. When you find the right motivation, you get that spark."