"When given the choice of being right or kind, choose kind."
It's not often people get a chance to lead a movement, particularly one that has grown at such an awesome pace as Fulton Rocks.
Hundreds have joined the mission to decorate ordinary rocks with inspirational messages and quirky pictures.
"Last Monday, I started the Facebook page," Fulton mom Jessie Staats said. "It's over 1,500 members now."
Staats and her children, and then others, have been painting their fingers off for days and venturing out secretly onto the streets of Fulton. They hide their nuggets in plain sight, imagining the looks of delight as each rock is discovered.
"I can't believe how fast it took off," Staats said. "I just started the Facebook page and asked people to paint rocks and put 'Fulton Rocks' on them."
The movement first appeared in Jefferson City and then spread to Holts Summit and Fulton.
"We got our inspiration for the idea from JC Rocks," she said. "It originated in a small town in Oregon as 'Love Rocks.'"
The rocks are decorated using a variety of mediums such as acrylic paint and markers and sealed with Mod Podge. Staats said she's painted about 100 rocks herself so far. Rules for rock decor are listed on the Fulton Rocks Facebook page.
"We find rocks down at the creek and in different places, and the Fulton Clothes Cupboard has a free rock bin out front so people can get rocks there," Staats said.
Others have joined with Staats to cover the city with cheerful, painted rocks. Fulton resident Anthony Nichols showed Staats an online post of two rocks someone had just found.
"I did these Saturday night," he told Staats, "and it took this long for them to find them."
He said on the first night, he hid rocks at about 30 locations.
"I've been out of work because I had surgery on my shoulder," he said, adjusting his sling. "This gave me something to tinker with while I was out."
Nichols mentioned Pokémon Go, a mobile game that has also gotten people out on the streets. In the game, players walk around searching for virtual pocket monsters. The rocks are a little more real.
"I have no idea about Pokémon, but the rocks are a lot of fun," he said.
His son, Eli, 8, said he likes the big rocks.
"They're cooler," he said.
Young rock artist Gabi Hersey, 10, picked out a floral design as her favorite.
"I like the rose," she said.
Staats said she has out-of-town friends starting painted rock movements, too. Some have taken Fulton rocks and spread them across the country, she added.
"A Colorado group took some from Fulton," she said. "It's really neat to see the positivity. The world is a scary place right now, especially if you have kids. This helps bring people together."
People with extra rocks also may drop them off at The Clothes Cupboard, 901 S. Business 54, for others to paint.
Staats said she hopes the movement keeps going.
"I was hoping it would last until Christmas time so I can decorate them like that," she said. "It's a welcome distraction from all the negativity in the world."