Have You Found One Of The 'Rocks Of Kindness'?

MADISON, CT — Anne Greene's mantra has always been 'play nice,' her daughter said.

A Madison resident for more than 20 years, Greene, who is in her 80s, "enjoys a wonderful and supportive community filled with friends, volunteering and enjoying the beach front where our children spent many days with her visiting and growing up," Dixie Douville said.

When they were young, Greene's grandsons, New Yorkers Aidan and Conor O’Brien, one now an EMT with the New York City fire department and the other a rugby player, would spend a few weeks with Greene in Madison and "attend summer camp taking a break from city life in Manhattan," Dixie said.

This past summer, they came back to Madison and that was when Greene shared "her newest hobby, "kindness rocks;" small polished stones Greene created with painted pictures, quotes and positive messages.

Greene, her daughter and grandsons "all decided to place these rocks throughout town where my nephews had spent so many fun summer days with my mom," Dixie said.

"They left the rocks in view in hopes that someone would find them and it would bring a smile to their face," she said.

Greene has since gone back to a few of the places where they placed rocks and has seen that someone has picked them up.

"We were chatting the other day and she wondered who might have found them and if it indeed it brought a smile to their face," Dixie said. "She does not want the rocks back- she is just curious. My whole life my mother’s mantra was 'play nice.' It is her way to focus on the positive in the midst of chaos. Perhaps that was because she raised six children and now has 16 grandchildren and one great- grandchild. Her thoughts of kindness on these rocks were her attempt to share some joy in a world that could use an unexpected smile."

Dixie said that the family "found some interesting nooks in some trees down by the water and I know they were on Main Street and on the Green." Well over a dozen stones were placed throughout town.

So Dixie reached out to Patch and we are happy to help.

A woman named Linda emailed Patch Thursday evening to say she found a similar rock in Waterbury.

"I found one in Waterbury as I was leaving my eye doctor from having cataract surgery. It was on the window ledge of his building and it said “Be the reason someone smiles today." On the back it said Kindness Rock." I

Have you found a Rock of Kindness in Madison? Tell us in the comments or email ellyn.santiago@patch.com.