Once again, on the 3rd Tuesday in August, sidewalks across the nation will be full of colorful, uplifting sentiments as people spend a little time chalking messages of inspiration, joy and love in an effort to make others smile. Messages like: always bring your own sunshine, you are awesome, yes you can, you are loved, today I am thankful. The annual international Chalk the Walks event, now in its fourth year, happens on August 19, 2014, anywhere and everywhere, all throughout the day.
Over 2,300 people from every state in the US plus Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, India, Mexico and New Zealand will be chalking their sidewalks with positive messages. And the event, less than a week out, continues to grow every day.
The idea is as powerful as it is simple: write happy messages, have fun doing it, spread some joy while you’re at it. Why? It makes people smile. And creating an easy way for people to smile and feel happy, even if just briefly, releases stress-busting, immune-boosting hormones in our bodies. It’s as good for our health as it is for our heart.
Being part of the joy-spreading movement is easy. Just join the Facebook event at facebook.com/chalkthewalks, chalk uplifting messages on your walks on Tuesday, August 19th, take some photos and share your messages on the Chalk the Walks 2014 Facebook event page, creating a virtual playground of inspiration and optimism.
Anyone can host a Chalk the Walks event in their town and invite the community to join them. Like Dee Clements of Hayling Island, Hampshire, England; the Sexual Assault Support Services for Women in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada; Sarah Sledge and United Way of Anchorage, Alaska; Lois Pozega and the homeless shelter in Elyria, Ohio; Denise Caskey in downtown Laramie, Wyoming; Estella Euclide of Mokapu Elementary PTA on the Marine Corps Base of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; Fern Gotell of Island Heart Cafe on Kent Street in Georgetown PEI, Canada; Cheryl Schmitt at Vital Chiropractic in Mount Vernon, Washington; or Marie Gettel-Gilmartin of Mission of The Atonement (MoTA) Church in Beaverton, Oregon; just to name a few.
Chalk the Walks, a project of The Joy Team, is all about spreading joy, inspiration and optimism through the magical power of sidewalk chalk. The international event began in the heart of Vancouver, Washington, in 2011; and will continue there on Main Street this year at Mini Mozart’s Preschool from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Free chalk is being provided by Official Chalk Partners, listed here. For more information, visit ChalkTheWalks.com.
Tags: chalk the walks, The Joy Team
[…] + August 19th is on the horizon so get ready with you chalk to fill the streets with drawings. […]
fabulous! I never leave home without my FREE HUGS sign, bubbles to share and I have sidewalk chalk too. Here’s to sharing and spreading JOY. All these small actions add up. Thank you for this opportunity. HUGS from my heart to yours!
Kristin