I paint rocks… among other art ventures.  Over the years I have painted hundreds of rocks with “Smiley Faces” and given them to friends and business associates.

One of the rocks was given to a friend, Jeff, to display on his counter at Shoreline Center for Healing.  The idea  was to create a friendly atmosphere of  positive vibes.  What better message for a Healing Center?

Jeff was telling me he has a friend that jokes about having a bad day and hitting someone with the smiley rock to take out his frustrations.  The idea of getting hit with a smiley rock conjured up all kinds of images… mostly conflicting.  The cartoon portrays the mixture of emotions we all experience during the Holiday Season.

I think we have all had the symbolic feeling of being hit with a smiley rock during the Holidays.  The everyday stresses of many emotions can highlight the conflict we all have at one time or another.  “It’s supposed to be a happy time… why am I so stressed out?” 

Maybe I should start painting smiley faces on foam.  It could serve as a great Holiday stress reliever when you throw it at someone.  What do you think?  Trade in your “Pet Rock” (remember them?) for a “Pet Foam Smiley Rock”…and get rid of your stress at the same time!  Try it out by throwing it at your Legislator… Come to think of it,  I’ve got a better idea…use the Smiley Rock.