Art, Kindness, and Connection
A personal note…
Dear friends,
I’m taking a chance and writing you this VERY long blog, hoping it holds your attention to the end! After almost two years of not much to say, I think it’s finally time to share some thoughts.
Well, for the first time in 25 years, we didn’t have a new project. It has felt pretty sad, but sometimes life just takes over, and the creative energy runs dry. It’s honestly been a rollercoaster for me, as I’m sure it has been for everyone — especially since COVID. Life has been pretty full, both with unexpected losses and wonderful gains, and I came to terms with the fact that my mind just wasn’t ready to spark another new project. Maybe it’s just part of turning 50, but more likely it is the result of juggling life in 2 countries which honestly feels like 2 complete separate lives. Yes, it could be viewed as exotic, and at times, it truly is. But I invite those with that mindset to try food shopping in Cyrillic, to drive your car around the “circle of aggression” during rush hour, have a commute of 25 hours to see your family, or god forbid, check yourself in at the emergency room in downtown Sofia, Bulgaria. It can be a lot to navigate, and the reality is that exotic is most often EXHAUSTING.
But back to our projects… to top things off, there is also that thing SOCIAL MEDIA. It almost felt like, why add to the noise? There are so many collaborative projects already out there. Really great ones. They are easy to find and even easier to share. Is our group even needed any more?
But it’s funny how the universe weaves its magic, always showing up just when you least expect it.
This past August, my mom suffered a serious stroke. I’ve spent a lot of time at her hospital bedside. Life for my family has been turned upside down during what was already a challenging time. Yet, amid all the sadness, stress, and uncertainty, one thing stood out — KINDNESS. From the person who picked me up from the hospital every day, to family dropping off food, checking in, and friends listening to me unconditionally for hours, and even the hospital staff—strangers who treated us like family. Those small acts of kindness meant everything.
To help cope, most mornings I’ve settled into a routine of going for a jog (well, more like a leisurely stroll) along the Philly waterfront. Penn Treaty Park. It’s a little gritty, sure, but it’s one of my favorite places. A space where folks from all walks of life reconnect with nature, clear their minds. It’s also Lenape land, so with each walk, I take a moment to acknowledge the ancestors, the first caretakers of this place, and the beauty that still shines through every sunrise. There’s something very special there and it always fills me with gratitude.
At the start of the park, there’s a large billboard. Sad really, it is mostly bare except for some outdated calendars, a flyer for a lost cat, a bit of graffiti and a business card for a wedding DJ. Then, a tiny spark of an idea clicked—what if I left a little bit of kindness there? No overthinking, just something simple but meaningful . A thank you to the park, the land, the people past and present. It had to be something I could manage on my own, without needing help or making commitments I couldn’t keep (DID YOU HEAR ME SQUIRREL, NO OVER THINKING!). OK so free, easy, and engaging. We already have a boat load of inspiring artwork we’ve created over the past 25 years, and I have a printer. How can all these ideas swirling around come together into something inspirational? And that’s how “ARTfirmations” was born. So here it is, just under the wire for 2024. This is indeed a NNAG project!
ARTfirmations brings together inspiring messages with the creativity of local artists. Our free, take-what-you-need affirmations offer a simple way to help spread uplifting vibes and artistic expression throughout the community.
I hung one up, and by the end of the day, all the quotes were gone! So, I put up another… then another, and again, GONE. I tried hanging three flyers together, and sure enough, all of them gone too. I even put one up in my building, and yep—gone! I left our web address on the flyers, and people have started reaching out, asking for the template so they can download and share it themselves.
So here’s the thing: it turns out people DO really need this. And I love the idea of sharing something OFF the screen—giving something tangible that people can slip into their pockets, or pass to a friend, or hang on their fridge. Take that social media! It’s more than just a digital save; it’s about sparking real, human connection. YES, that’s it! And it’s a way to reach beyond our usual social circles, spreading kindness to those we may never even meet.
The next day, all gone!
I’ve created a few flyers using our past artwork, but if anyone wants to participate, here’s how:
HANG A FLYER. Download a flyer already created— recycled artwork from our fabulous past projects— and hang one up where you like to spread a little joy. Supermarket, elevators, bus stops. Heck, hang it ion your bathroom mirror. Because we all need it!
DONATE ART. Whether it’s a past piece or something fresh, no need to create the flyer—just share your artwork for us to use as a background. It’s an easy way to let your creativity inspire and uplift others in the community.
SEND US KIND THOUGHTS. To keep variations of quotes, please feel free to send idea of other short kind words. If you know kindness in ANOTHER language, please contact us. We would love those variations as well.
Together, let’s keep doing what we do best—creating art that makes a difference.
Peace & Love,
Sherry
KINDNESS TRACKER: 23 flyers hung as of Oct 6, 2024!
NNAG acknowledges Philadelphia as part of Lënapehòkink, the ancestral homelands of the Lenape people. View map >
Love this! I cherish all of these projects and this one is so meaningful now.