Chalk Talk

Whenever the forecast shows a few days without precipitation, I find my neighbor and her daughter, a college senior and aspiring graphic designer, outside in front of their house. With a bucket of colorful sidewalk chalk, they are on hands and knees creating inspiration on the pavement. 

I can’t tell you how many times they’ve decorated the street over the past year, only to have the rain wash their artwork away. But they always come back with more. And people notice. I’ve noticed people walk by and say the words out loud and have seen cars slow down to take a look at their latest messages. 

Sometimes they spell out sayings like Kindness is Contagious or today’s message-- Happy Spring! Last week it was an emoji, half smiley face, half frown face-- depending on how you look at it...the words You Decide written just below.  

The emoji seems to be emblematic of the pandemic. Those who are not suffering but who find themselves frustrated with how their life has changed, may feel like there is no choice to be made. As long as the pandemic is here, life is bad and frown worthy. 

I prefer to see this call to action from the pavement as a reminder. As long as we are not suffering, we have a choice. Every day, every hour. To find positives, to seek out joy, to celebrate others, to remember what we are grateful for. 

Suppose you can also walk by this pavement any day of the week even though we are not neighbors. Invite this image into your mind...and then decide.