INSIGHT Magazine September 2017 | Page 27

https://youtu.be/TK8iHsDXGvQ Hudson says Oxford Rocks has inspired other spin off groups around Calhoun County such as Anniston Rocks, Jacksonville Rocks, Weaver Rocks, Talladega Rocks, Heflin Rocks, and more. Hudson and other members of Oxford Rocks encourages people to write Oxford Rocks on the back of their rocks so those who find them know where to post pictures. Oxford Rocks have been found all over the southeast. “If somebody is going out of town or on vacation I usually send some of my rocks with them,” explains Hudson. She says Oxford Rocks were found in Florida, Mobile, Texas, and even New Zealand. Hudson says she has painted and hidden approximately 600 rocks so far, and her reason for painting rocks has grown from a hobby into something much more meaningful. She says, “Seeing the smiles on the kid’s faces. It’s been a blessing to me, it really has.” >> LEARN MORE ABOUT THE KINDNESS ROCKS PROJECT INSIGHT On more than one occasion, Hudson says her rocks have touched people to the point of tears. “It is unreal. It is absolutely unreal,” she says as she remembers a mother’s tears. One day at the Oxford Exchange, Hudson gave two young boys each a rock of their own, and their mom started crying. She told Hudson that she found a painted rock on her front porch after her husband’s funeral, and explained how much it meant to her. “You get good stories like that all the time,” Hudson says. And that’s why she continues to paint her rocks. Her hobby has grown so much that Hudson says her kitchen table is now the rock table. “On the side, some people call my rocks ‘Cindy Rocks’ and they say ‘don’t re- hide Cindy Rocks, keep Cindy Rocks,’” she laughed. Hudson encourages everyone to participate in Oxford Rocks or another group in your home town. If there isn’t a group near you, start one! The goal of The Kindness Rocks Project is to promote random acts of kindness to unsuspecting recipients… whether by painting and dropping inspirational rocks or some other cool creative way to bring kindness into the world. This focus on positivity, kindness, and love is what makes Cindy Hudson and Oxford Rocks Completely Calhoun County. ✽ >> JOIN OXFORD ROCKS September 2017 27