March 6, 2025 • 25 mins
Have you ever paused to consider the power of a simple handwritten note? Join us as we explore this lost art with Don Prisby, the heart and soul behind the Blessing Post, a remarkable community initiative that has warmed his neighborhood since 2018. Positioned right in Don's backyard, this wooden post serves as a gathering spot for neighbors to exchange heartfelt letters, sparking genuine connections and reviving personal communication in a digital age. Listen to Don share his passion for handwritten encouragement and discover how this modest project has fostered a vibrant, caring community, proving that small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact.
In this uplifting episode of the Kindness Matters podcast, we dive into the nuts and bolts of building and maintaining a Blessing Post, from the logistics of city easements to the creative flair of designing a logo. Learn about the spontaneous joy it has sparked—neighbors making snow angels together—and the remarkable absence of vandalism, highlighting the community's respect and love for this beacon of goodwill. We also introduce you to the Mayday Media Network, offering a platform for those looking to share their voices. So, settle in and be inspired by the uplifting ripple effect one man's simple idea has had on his entire community.
#community #writing #notes #inspiration
This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network. If you have an idea for a podcast and need some production assistance or have a podcast and are looking for a supportive network to join, check out maydaymedianetwork.com.
Like what you hear on the podcast? Follow our social media for more uplifting, inspirational and feel-good content.
It's one thing to highlight the kindness that we see in the world, but it's another to, as I put in many of my social media posts, #bethechange. I am donating all of my royalties from the sale of my book, Change A World; In Order to Change The World to local and national non-profits. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, hello there and welcome.
You are listening to theKindness Matters podcast and I
am your host, mike Rathbun.
What is this podcast all about?
It's about kindness.
It's a pushback againsteverything negative that we see
in the news and on social mediatoday, and it's a way to
(00:20):
highlight people, organizations,that are simply striving to
make their little corner of theworld a little better place.
If you want to join in on theconversation, feel free, Go
ahead and follow us on all ofyour social media feeds.
We're on Facebook, instagram,tiktok.
We're even on LinkedIn underMike Rathbun.
(00:43):
Check us out.
We're even on LinkedIn underMike Rathbun.
Check us out.
And, in the meantime, so sitback, relax, enjoy and we'll get
into the Kindness Matterspodcast.
Hey, welcome to the showeverybody.
I am so glad that you aregiving me some of your time
today to listen to this podcastand listen to this interview,
(01:07):
and if there's anything in thepodcast that you find
inspirational or motivational orjust anything positive, make
sure to share it with yourfriends and family.
I would really appreciate it,really appreciate it.
(01:29):
So great show for you today.
If you remember the thrill of ahandwritten note from a secret
admirer, or you remember thewarmth you felt when your mom
would put a note in your lunchbag.
You're going to like my guesttoday.
In this day and age of digitalcommunication, don Prisby has
made it possible to exchangepositive words of goodwill by
hand.
He is the inventor of theBlessing Post, a literal post in
(01:55):
his backyard, along aneighborhood path, where
passerby can receive and leavepersonal notes of encouragement
and blessing.
Welcome to the show today, don.
So nice to have you.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Mike, thank you.
It's great to be here and whatan exciting opportunity to share
some good news.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Yeah, because we could all use some good news
right about now.
Right, absolutely, there isnever not a time for good news.
I think it's just yeah, I mean,people are stressed out and
wondering what's going to happenand all that good stuff in the
world, and we're here to tellyou it's going to be okay.
Absolutely.
(02:35):
I absolutely love this story.
I'm going to name drop.
I saw you on KSTP the storyabout your blessing post and I'm
like I have got to talk to thisman and find out what's going
on Because again, in a worldwhere sometimes it seems kind of
(02:56):
dark, that was such a brightlight, that story.
So talk to me a little bitabout why did you decide to do
this?
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Sure, well, mike, the Blessing Post, as you know, is
just.
It's a post in my backyard,right along a path that goes by
my house, and years ago, I wasthinking you know, we live in
this digital world where digitalcommunication is the norm and
it separates us.
And I was thinking, you knowwhat about that time when we
(03:28):
used to just share notes backand forth you know, as you said
at the intro, that a Valentine's, or a secret admirer, or when
your mom tucked that note inyour lunch and I thought could
we get back to that?
And I thought I'll put a postin my backyard for a place for
people to receive and leavenotes of a positive goodwill.
(03:51):
And that was back in May of2018, seven years ago now, and
thousands of people have seen itand have received notes and
left notes, and it's just been awonderful social experiment,
but something that's reallytransforming the neighborhood.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Yeah, for sure I could see how that would.
Yeah, it is.
It's so easy for us to just.
I'm even to the point I thinkI'm getting as bad as the kids,
to the point where I'm likedon't call me, just text me.
Or even something like a phonecall is kind of going by the
wayside these days.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Or don't you love it when you get a birthday text?
Oh, that makes me so.
I feel so warm.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
I get all the warm fuzzies.
Yeah, I know, I get a text frommy brother-in-law, and it's
always Veterans Day.
I get a text and thankyou-in-law, and it's always
Veterans Day.
I get a text and thank you foryour service.
Okay, and birthdays, yes, andyeah, it really is kind of a
lost art sending notes or cardsor what have you, because I'm
(05:01):
sure and I don't remember, Idon't know how many of my
listeners will remember, butbeing and yes, you had to make
us do it, but make it writingthank you cards when you got
something for birthday orChristmas.
Oh, I got it right, grandma,thank you card or thank you note
.
But and as much as I hatedbeing made to do that when I was
(05:25):
a kid, I kind of miss it nowit's a.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
It's a lovely thing to receive a note.
It really it.
It it tells you that somebodysat down, took some time and
actually hand wrote something.
Um, it is a lost art and it's alost experience.
Today, the norm is to beefficient, to send texts or
emails.
Even signing up for churchevents, you sign up by their
(05:51):
website.
We just keep getting furtherand further apart and it becomes
a norm and we don't realizethat.
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
I spoke with a woman from I want to say she's in
Plymouth, but that might be you,I don't know.
She's out in that area.
One Good Deed is the name ofher nonprofit, and they do
things all year round.
But one of the things they dois they get together and they
(06:21):
make cards, valentine cards forsenior homes.
Oh, what a great idea, isn'tthat a great idea?
Yeah, but this is kind of likethat, except it's just in one
place.
So when you first started ittalk about, you had actual note
notes, right.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Right, right, it made a transition.
So from 2017 till COVID, weactually had notes.
I printed notes.
They were blank cards and weput them in the box.
The first person left a message, then the next person coming
down the block saw that and thattook that message for
themselves.
(06:59):
And you know, we had thebanker's pen with the chain.
So, they could take a blank noteout and write a note and pin it
back on.
So receive one, leave one, andover that time I approximated
about 500 exchanges of notes andthat was just a wonderful
(07:23):
experience.
And then when COVID hit, youknow, no one wanted to touch
anything.
So I transformed it into alarge chalkboard where on the
top I could write a weeklymessage, and then on the bottom,
right down to the grass, so thelittle kids could do it.
And that's where the chalk boxwas.
(07:43):
It was the area, the area forpeople to respond.
So around the seasons, you know,at school opening, I'd say
what's your favorite class?
Or who's your favorite teacher,what's your favorite school?
Or at Halloween, what's yourfavorite candy?
(08:03):
Or or on election day, who areyou voting for?
No, I didn't do that.
But Christmas time whiteChristmas or not, you know
question mark and people wouldsay yes or no.
And then in the spring, thingslike Valentine's Day how many
hearts can we draw?
And kids would be out therejust drawing hearts with chalk.
(08:25):
One other one in the summertimeis how many smiley faces can we
leave Nice?
So it just gets people of allages involved and as you walk
down the path you can see themessage at a distance, so you
have time to think about it andthen get there and there's a
(08:46):
path leading up to it, sothere's a sense of welcoming and
then you can respond and it'sjust a wonderful way to reach
out to the neighborhood and lookat it.
Over time, mike, I based it onlike 20 visits a week, or 20
sites a week, you know, fewer inthe winter but much more in the
(09:06):
summer.
That's 47 000 people, 47 000views of the blessing post over
its seven years of existence mygoodness and and 47 000 lives
made better.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
I would say, let's hope.
Yeah, I mean, you know, knowwho could not pass by that?
And even if they didn'tparticipate, you know, they see
that how many smiles can we draw?
That's got to be uplifting or,you know, make you feel warm,
(09:44):
like that note from your mom inyour lunch bag.
You see that, and maybe youdon't have time or maybe you're
in a hurry or what have you, andyou don't have time to throw a
smiley face up there, but youleave that place feeling a
little bit better about the day,I would imagine.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
It's really infectious how people get
involved with it.
And here's what's happening,mike, like in the wintertime.
There is a guy who lives up atthe cul-de-sac.
He mows the neighborhood pathand he snowblows a path right to
the blessing post, so he'staking care of it that way.
(10:25):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
So you've got the whole neighborhood involved care
of it that way.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Oh wow, so you got the whole neighborhood involved.
Yeah, one day a young familycame by with their stroller and
a little girl brought up a boxof chalk and said Mr Prisby,
here's a box of chalk from ourfamily.
And that was just so.
It made my heart happy.
And then one other time a churchyouth group had nominated the
Blessing Post as one of the waysthat we make the world better
(10:52):
and they gave me a Target giftcard which I went and I
purchased chalk for it Morechalk.
So it's just wonderful how itinspires people to just do
positive things.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Yeah, because kindness is like that right, you
do a one kind act and itripples out endlessly really to
so many other people and so manyother things.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Yeah, Jim, just like your podcast.
I'm sure it's getting all kindsof adulations for spreading
just good words.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
And you know that was part of the reason I started it
.
You know you don't have to looktoo far to find bad news, right
, and I wanted to be a placewhere somebody could come to
feel a little lighter, if onlyfor 30 minutes.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
And maybe be inspired .
Have you ever, have people eversaid to you Mr Prisby, can I do
one?
I mean, do you know of others?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
out there I don't know of others and at one time,
Mike, I thought this would besuch an easy thing to expand and
we could put them all over theworld, but as things went by I
just there was something niceabout it being just an organic
thought that there's just oneblessing post and it's in my
(12:19):
backyard in Plymouth, Minnesota,and it's just taking care of
the neighbors.
I do have a blessing, awebsite's theblessingpostorg.
Okay, so if people wanted to goand see that, they certainly
could.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
We will absolutely have a link to it in the show
notes.
Yeah, I was thinking along thelines of like a little free
library.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
You know those sprouted up all over the place.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Yes, I would love to see something like this in every
single neighborhood, wouldn'tit be fun?
Speaker 2 (12:54):
And also I could see these in long-term care
facilities where people are kindof in a community.
There could be one in the lobbywhere kind notes could be
shared by the residents, or, youknow, in a college dormitory as
a means to unite the studentsas they come in.
There's all kinds of ways to doit.
And I mean, as you saw that itwas on KSTP.
(13:18):
You know it's just recently gotsome other news.
It was in a magazine calledMinnesota Catholic in their
recent edition, and a couple ofyears ago it was in Plymouth
magazine.
So people have learned about itand you know, if they wanted to
do it, I would encourage themto do it.
It's very simple thing to do.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Yeah, and it's I.
Just, I absolutely love everyaspect of this thing because
you're touching people andyou're making somebody's day a
little brighter, and reallythat's all we can.
I mean, if we can do that everyday, right, because I think
(14:00):
deep down we're all kind ofcalled to be a light in somebody
else's life.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Yeah, I think we have an inherent call to goodness.
And yet, you know, we get intothe pace of digital
communications and into the paceof our remote workplaces and
into the pace of long work hoursand, all of a sudden, the norm
is no longer a friendly smileand a kind word.
The norm is look, I'll text youwhen I can.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
And I might see you if I can.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Right, exactly.
So where does the blessing postgo from here?
Does it get bigger?
Do you anticipate it changingat all?
Speaker 2 (14:50):
I think I it's been.
It's been here for seven years.
I have had friends on bothcoasts of the country.
I have a friend in Canada whosaid that she was interested in
putting one up on a path by heryard.
So maybe it's going to be theBlessing Post International,
Canada and the US.
But I don't know.
(15:12):
I would have to put some energyinto that.
I do know that it probablyneeds another coat of paint, so
I'll be doing that in the springand I'm also going to plant a
Blessing Post garden, a gardenaround it, Because it's really
powerful to watch young familiesor older folks out on walks.
(15:34):
They come and they stop andlook at it.
I also want to create anenvironment where they can just
rest and just have a time topause and just reflect on their
day, and if the Blessing Posthas a garden with it, that might
be a way to enhance thatexperience.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Yeah, for sure, maybe a bench.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Yeah, a bench?
Speaker 1 (15:55):
yeah, Would that, and do you get into trouble?
The city doesn't have a problemwith it or anything.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Well, what I did was I checked with the city and I
knew there was an eight-footeasement on the path next to my
property, so I made sure Imeasured in so it was actually
in my yard, not on the easement.
And the other thing I did andfor anyone who's going to do a
blessing post, check with theelectrical companies and the
(16:23):
utilities, because I called themand they came out and they
sprayed my yard to where theunderground wires and pipes were
, because when I put the post in, you know I needed about three
feet of a spike to go in andthen the blessing post sits on
that.
So I checked with the utilitiesand then I made sure that the
city wouldn't be protesting,that I was on the easement, so
(16:46):
it is in my yard.
So that was.
Those were just considerationsto be aware of.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Oh for sure, yeah, always check before you dig.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Check before you dig.
That sounds good.
Well, here's another thing,mike.
Because I am a marketer, I paidto have a logo designed and
then all the cards and all thesignage I had professionally
done.
Just because you know brandingand logos or you know, when
you're a marketer you kind ofappreciate those things.
(17:18):
So it has a definitive look andfeel to it.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
I did not even notice that.
When I was looking at yourwebsite, I did not notice that.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Yeah, I didn't notice the logo.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Oh, for heaven's sakes, maybe it's there's a logo
on the front of it, and then Ihave a large like two-by-three
sign out there with the logo onit, designed by a local guy
who's very talented, and I wasjust delighted that he was part
of that.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Oh, I'm sure.
And all of these people thatget involved with the Blessing
Post, from the little girl whobrought chalk to the guy who
snowblows the path to the guywho did your logo, I mean, they
were all.
They saw something positive inbeing involved in your project,
(18:14):
right?
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Again, it's so alluring.
People respond to kindness,just as you know, Mike, with
your web, you know with yourpodcast.
People want to express kindnessand if we give them the
opportunity to do that, theywill.
One time I was away for a whileand I didn't get out on that
one Sunday to create a new sign,a new message, and I went out
(18:41):
there to do that and somebodyelse in the neighborhood had
taken that role.
Oh really, they put a new signup.
And then and then another timeit had snowed and I walked out
there and a couple of people hadmade snow angels in around the
blessing post and it was just soendearing to see that.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
So when it's not spring and you don't have
flowers, you have snow angels noangels, let's let's hope that
continues yeah, well, it's goingto this weekend, I think oh, it
is.
That's what I've heard, Wellyou don't hear it in.
Minnesota.
Yeah, I know right, I can'ttell it could be anything.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Anything.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Shoot.
I had another question in myhead and I forgot it.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
No worries.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
For you?
No, it truly is it truly is.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
It's fun.
I mean, I put it in a placewhere I can look out my kitchen
window and see it and see peoplestopping and interacting with
it.
Now here's an interesting fact.
You'd think it would be a riskto put something out in a public
area where people are going tointeract with it.
No, would it be damaged, wouldthere be graffiti put on it,
(20:04):
would people write somethingthat was vulgar or out of, in
poor taste?
And in the seven years thatit's been out there, not once
has that happened.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
That's incredible.
That's incredible.
That's incredible because, yeah, I mean, as I don't know, I
don't want to say it's humannature, but maybe, as far as
kids are concerned, for exampleI'm sure you have plenty of
teens in the neighborhood it'salmost like too tempting to not
do something.
(20:39):
I have never done this myself,but you know what people do to
mailboxes and whatnot.
Oh yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
And yet I think they sent something so good in the
post that they wouldn't dare.
It does well.
It could be that it could bethat um one other element of it.
So at night it does.
It is illuminated because I havea solar light on the top I was
going to ask about that so you,all times of the day, you can
see it, and I'm not saying thatscares away the ruffians, but
people have just been very kindand gentle with it and it's
(21:26):
there.
I haven't touched it for sevenyears.
It's just steadily planted inthe ground.
I have a rock step path thatgoes up to it and I've got the
beginnings of a garden around itwhich will be expanded this
year, and it should justcontinue to go on and on and on.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Maybe we call it the blessing garden post.
Yeah, I don't know.
No, the post is the main thing,so yeah, yeah Well, everyone
sees the double entendre there.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
right, it's a post, but you also post.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Oh, I did not catch that because I'm not very bright
.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
No.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
No, that's fantastic.
No, that's fantastic.
And, Don, I really, really,really appreciate the time that
you've taken today to come upand chat with me.
I absolutely love everythingabout the Blessing Post and
folks.
If you're ever out in thePlymouth area and you want to
stop by and take a look at it,I'm sure Don would love to have
(22:33):
you.
Not that I'm going to send alot of people to your house, Don
.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Well, it's on the path that connects Yellowstone
Lane from Cottage Grove Court.
Oh, okay, implement In theneighborhood of Saddlebrook.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Maybe I'll sneak out there and I'll do something
silly like put balloons on it orsomething.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Perfect, you are most welcome.
Well, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
You're so, so welcome .
I appreciate you and Iappreciate what you're doing and
you're making the world abetter place, sir.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Step by step, mike, let's do that.
All right, it's a deal.
All right, better place, sir.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Step by step, mike, let's do that.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
All right, it's a deal.
All right, be well, sir.
Thanks for your time.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
All right, bye-bye.
I want to thank you for takingthis time to listen to this
episode with my guest, donPrisby.
I hope that you are able totake something positive from the
time you spent here.
Maybe you'll be inspired, maybeyou'll be motivated to put a
blessing post up in yourneighborhood, maybe you'll be
(23:41):
moved.
If you experienced any of thosepositive feelings, please
consider sharing this podcastwith your friends and family.
I'm always striving to offeryou a better podcast, so give me
some feedback.
Let me know how you think I'mdoing.
You can email me, leave amessage on my socials it would
mean the world to me and alsofeel free to follow us on our
(24:05):
socials like Facebook, instagram, linkedin, tiktok, you name it.
This podcast is part of theMayday Media Network.
If you have an idea for apodcast and need some production
assistance, or if you have apodcast and are looking for a
supportive network to join,check out maydaymedianetworkcom
(24:34):
and check out the many differentshows, like Afrocentric Spoil,
my Movie Generation Mixtape In aPickle Radio Show, wake Up and
Dream with D Anthony Palin,staxo, pax and the Time Pals.
We'll be back again next weekwith a new episode and we would
be honored if you would join us.
You've been listening to theKindness Matters Podcast.
I am your host, mike Rathbun.
(24:56):
Have a fantastic week.
Well, hello there and welcome.
You are listening to theKindness Matters podcast and I
am your host, mike Rathbun.
What is this podcast all about?
It's about kindness.
It's a pushback againsteverything negative that we see
in the news and on social mediatoday, and it's a way to
(00:20):
highlight people, organizations,that are simply striving to
make their little corner of theworld a little better place.
If you want to join in on theconversation, feel free, Go
ahead and follow us on all ofyour social media feeds.
We're on Facebook, instagram,tiktok.
We're even on LinkedIn underMike Rathbun.
(00:43):
Check us out.
We're even on LinkedIn underMike Rathbun.
Check us out.
And, in the meantime, so sitback, relax, enjoy and we'll get
into the Kindness Matterspodcast.
Hey, welcome to the showeverybody.
I am so glad that you aregiving me some of your time
today to listen to this podcastand listen to this interview,
(01:07):
and if there's anything in thepodcast that you find
inspirational or motivational orjust anything positive, make
sure to share it with yourfriends and family.
I would really appreciate it,really appreciate it.
(01:29):
So great show for you today.
If you remember the thrill of ahandwritten note from a secret
admirer, or you remember thewarmth you felt when your mom
would put a note in your lunchbag.
You're going to like my guesttoday.
In this day and age of digitalcommunication, don Prisby has
made it possible to exchangepositive words of goodwill by
hand.
He is the inventor of theBlessing Post, a literal post in
(01:55):
his backyard, along aneighborhood path, where
passerby can receive and leavepersonal notes of encouragement
and blessing.
Welcome to the show today, don.
So nice to have you.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Mike, thank you.
It's great to be here and whatan exciting opportunity to share
some good news.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Yeah, because we could all use some good news
right about now.
Right, absolutely, there isnever not a time for good news.
I think it's just yeah, I mean,people are stressed out and
wondering what's going to happenand all that good stuff in the
world, and we're here to tellyou it's going to be okay.
Absolutely.
(02:35):
I absolutely love this story.
I'm going to name drop.
I saw you on KSTP the storyabout your blessing post and I'm
like I have got to talk to thisman and find out what's going
on Because again, in a worldwhere sometimes it seems kind of
(02:56):
dark, that was such a brightlight, that story.
So talk to me a little bitabout why did you decide to do
this?
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Sure, well, mike, the Blessing Post, as you know, is
just.
It's a post in my backyard,right along a path that goes by
my house, and years ago, I wasthinking you know, we live in
this digital world where digitalcommunication is the norm and
it separates us.
And I was thinking, you knowwhat about that time when we
(03:28):
used to just share notes backand forth you know, as you said
at the intro, that a Valentine's, or a secret admirer, or when
your mom tucked that note inyour lunch and I thought could
we get back to that?
And I thought I'll put a postin my backyard for a place for
people to receive and leavenotes of a positive goodwill.
(03:51):
And that was back in May of2018, seven years ago now, and
thousands of people have seen itand have received notes and
left notes, and it's just been awonderful social experiment,
but something that's reallytransforming the neighborhood.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Yeah, for sure I could see how that would.
Yeah, it is.
It's so easy for us to just.
I'm even to the point I thinkI'm getting as bad as the kids,
to the point where I'm likedon't call me, just text me.
Or even something like a phonecall is kind of going by the
wayside these days.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Or don't you love it when you get a birthday text?
Oh, that makes me so.
I feel so warm.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
I get all the warm fuzzies.
Yeah, I know, I get a text frommy brother-in-law, and it's
always Veterans Day.
I get a text and thankyou-in-law, and it's always
Veterans Day.
I get a text and thank you foryour service.
Okay, and birthdays, yes, andyeah, it really is kind of a
lost art sending notes or cardsor what have you, because I'm
(05:01):
sure and I don't remember, Idon't know how many of my
listeners will remember, butbeing and yes, you had to make
us do it, but make it writingthank you cards when you got
something for birthday orChristmas.
Oh, I got it right, grandma,thank you card or thank you note
.
But and as much as I hatedbeing made to do that when I was
(05:25):
a kid, I kind of miss it nowit's a.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
It's a lovely thing to receive a note.
It really it.
It it tells you that somebodysat down, took some time and
actually hand wrote something.
Um, it is a lost art and it's alost experience.
Today, the norm is to beefficient, to send texts or
emails.
Even signing up for churchevents, you sign up by their
(05:51):
website.
We just keep getting furtherand further apart and it becomes
a norm and we don't realizethat.
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
I spoke with a woman from I want to say she's in
Plymouth, but that might be you,I don't know.
She's out in that area.
One Good Deed is the name ofher nonprofit, and they do
things all year round.
But one of the things they dois they get together and they
(06:21):
make cards, valentine cards forsenior homes.
Oh, what a great idea, isn'tthat a great idea?
Yeah, but this is kind of likethat, except it's just in one
place.
So when you first started ittalk about, you had actual note
notes, right.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Right, right, it made a transition.
So from 2017 till COVID, weactually had notes.
I printed notes.
They were blank cards and weput them in the box.
The first person left a message, then the next person coming
down the block saw that and thattook that message for
themselves.
(06:59):
And you know, we had thebanker's pen with the chain.
So, they could take a blank noteout and write a note and pin it
back on.
So receive one, leave one, andover that time I approximated
about 500 exchanges of notes andthat was just a wonderful
(07:23):
experience.
And then when COVID hit, youknow, no one wanted to touch
anything.
So I transformed it into alarge chalkboard where on the
top I could write a weeklymessage, and then on the bottom,
right down to the grass, so thelittle kids could do it.
And that's where the chalk boxwas.
(07:43):
It was the area, the area forpeople to respond.
So around the seasons, you know,at school opening, I'd say
what's your favorite class?
Or who's your favorite teacher,what's your favorite school?
Or at Halloween, what's yourfavorite candy?
(08:03):
Or or on election day, who areyou voting for?
No, I didn't do that.
But Christmas time whiteChristmas or not, you know
question mark and people wouldsay yes or no.
And then in the spring, thingslike Valentine's Day how many
hearts can we draw?
And kids would be out therejust drawing hearts with chalk.
(08:25):
One other one in the summertimeis how many smiley faces can we
leave Nice?
So it just gets people of allages involved and as you walk
down the path you can see themessage at a distance, so you
have time to think about it andthen get there and there's a
(08:46):
path leading up to it, sothere's a sense of welcoming and
then you can respond and it'sjust a wonderful way to reach
out to the neighborhood and lookat it.
Over time, mike, I based it onlike 20 visits a week, or 20
sites a week, you know, fewer inthe winter but much more in the
(09:06):
summer.
That's 47 000 people, 47 000views of the blessing post over
its seven years of existence mygoodness and and 47 000 lives
made better.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
I would say, let's hope.
Yeah, I mean, you know, knowwho could not pass by that?
And even if they didn'tparticipate, you know, they see
that how many smiles can we draw?
That's got to be uplifting or,you know, make you feel warm,
(09:44):
like that note from your mom inyour lunch bag.
You see that, and maybe youdon't have time or maybe you're
in a hurry or what have you, andyou don't have time to throw a
smiley face up there, but youleave that place feeling a
little bit better about the day,I would imagine.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
It's really infectious how people get
involved with it.
And here's what's happening,mike, like in the wintertime.
There is a guy who lives up atthe cul-de-sac.
He mows the neighborhood pathand he snowblows a path right to
the blessing post, so he'staking care of it that way.
(10:25):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
So you've got the whole neighborhood involved care
of it that way.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Oh wow, so you got the whole neighborhood involved.
Yeah, one day a young familycame by with their stroller and
a little girl brought up a boxof chalk and said Mr Prisby,
here's a box of chalk from ourfamily.
And that was just so.
It made my heart happy.
And then one other time a churchyouth group had nominated the
Blessing Post as one of the waysthat we make the world better
(10:52):
and they gave me a Target giftcard which I went and I
purchased chalk for it Morechalk.
So it's just wonderful how itinspires people to just do
positive things.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Yeah, because kindness is like that right, you
do a one kind act and itripples out endlessly really to
so many other people and so manyother things.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Yeah, Jim, just like your podcast.
I'm sure it's getting all kindsof adulations for spreading
just good words.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
And you know that was part of the reason I started it
.
You know you don't have to looktoo far to find bad news, right
, and I wanted to be a placewhere somebody could come to
feel a little lighter, if onlyfor 30 minutes.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
And maybe be inspired .
Have you ever, have people eversaid to you Mr Prisby, can I do
one?
I mean, do you know of others?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
out there I don't know of others and at one time,
Mike, I thought this would besuch an easy thing to expand and
we could put them all over theworld, but as things went by I
just there was something niceabout it being just an organic
thought that there's just oneblessing post and it's in my
(12:19):
backyard in Plymouth, Minnesota,and it's just taking care of
the neighbors.
I do have a blessing, awebsite's theblessingpostorg.
Okay, so if people wanted to goand see that, they certainly
could.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
We will absolutely have a link to it in the show
notes.
Yeah, I was thinking along thelines of like a little free
library.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
You know those sprouted up all over the place.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Yes, I would love to see something like this in every
single neighborhood, wouldn'tit be fun?
Speaker 2 (12:54):
And also I could see these in long-term care
facilities where people are kindof in a community.
There could be one in the lobbywhere kind notes could be
shared by the residents, or, youknow, in a college dormitory as
a means to unite the studentsas they come in.
There's all kinds of ways to doit.
And I mean, as you saw that itwas on KSTP.
(13:18):
You know it's just recently gotsome other news.
It was in a magazine calledMinnesota Catholic in their
recent edition, and a couple ofyears ago it was in Plymouth
magazine.
So people have learned about itand you know, if they wanted to
do it, I would encourage themto do it.
It's very simple thing to do.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Yeah, and it's I.
Just, I absolutely love everyaspect of this thing because
you're touching people andyou're making somebody's day a
little brighter, and reallythat's all we can.
I mean, if we can do that everyday, right, because I think
(14:00):
deep down we're all kind ofcalled to be a light in somebody
else's life.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Yeah, I think we have an inherent call to goodness.
And yet, you know, we get intothe pace of digital
communications and into the paceof our remote workplaces and
into the pace of long work hoursand, all of a sudden, the norm
is no longer a friendly smileand a kind word.
The norm is look, I'll text youwhen I can.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
And I might see you if I can.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Right, exactly.
So where does the blessing postgo from here?
Does it get bigger?
Do you anticipate it changingat all?
Speaker 2 (14:50):
I think I it's been.
It's been here for seven years.
I have had friends on bothcoasts of the country.
I have a friend in Canada whosaid that she was interested in
putting one up on a path by heryard.
So maybe it's going to be theBlessing Post International,
Canada and the US.
But I don't know.
(15:12):
I would have to put some energyinto that.
I do know that it probablyneeds another coat of paint, so
I'll be doing that in the springand I'm also going to plant a
Blessing Post garden, a gardenaround it, Because it's really
powerful to watch young familiesor older folks out on walks.
(15:34):
They come and they stop andlook at it.
I also want to create anenvironment where they can just
rest and just have a time topause and just reflect on their
day, and if the Blessing Posthas a garden with it, that might
be a way to enhance thatexperience.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Yeah, for sure, maybe a bench.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Yeah, a bench?
Speaker 1 (15:55):
yeah, Would that, and do you get into trouble?
The city doesn't have a problemwith it or anything.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Well, what I did was I checked with the city and I
knew there was an eight-footeasement on the path next to my
property, so I made sure Imeasured in so it was actually
in my yard, not on the easement.
And the other thing I did andfor anyone who's going to do a
blessing post, check with theelectrical companies and the
(16:23):
utilities, because I called themand they came out and they
sprayed my yard to where theunderground wires and pipes were
, because when I put the post in, you know I needed about three
feet of a spike to go in andthen the blessing post sits on
that.
So I checked with the utilitiesand then I made sure that the
city wouldn't be protesting,that I was on the easement, so
(16:46):
it is in my yard.
So that was.
Those were just considerationsto be aware of.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Oh for sure, yeah, always check before you dig.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Check before you dig.
That sounds good.
Well, here's another thing,mike.
Because I am a marketer, I paidto have a logo designed and
then all the cards and all thesignage I had professionally
done.
Just because you know brandingand logos or you know, when
you're a marketer you kind ofappreciate those things.
(17:18):
So it has a definitive look andfeel to it.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
I did not even notice that.
When I was looking at yourwebsite, I did not notice that.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Yeah, I didn't notice the logo.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Oh, for heaven's sakes, maybe it's there's a logo
on the front of it, and then Ihave a large like two-by-three
sign out there with the logo onit, designed by a local guy
who's very talented, and I wasjust delighted that he was part
of that.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Oh, I'm sure.
And all of these people thatget involved with the Blessing
Post, from the little girl whobrought chalk to the guy who
snowblows the path to the guywho did your logo, I mean, they
were all.
They saw something positive inbeing involved in your project,
(18:14):
right?
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Again, it's so alluring.
People respond to kindness,just as you know, Mike, with
your web, you know with yourpodcast.
People want to express kindnessand if we give them the
opportunity to do that, theywill.
One time I was away for a whileand I didn't get out on that
one Sunday to create a new sign,a new message, and I went out
(18:41):
there to do that and somebodyelse in the neighborhood had
taken that role.
Oh really, they put a new signup.
And then and then another timeit had snowed and I walked out
there and a couple of people hadmade snow angels in around the
blessing post and it was just soendearing to see that.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
So when it's not spring and you don't have
flowers, you have snow angels noangels, let's let's hope that
continues yeah, well, it's goingto this weekend, I think oh, it
is.
That's what I've heard, Wellyou don't hear it in.
Minnesota.
Yeah, I know right, I can'ttell it could be anything.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Anything.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Shoot.
I had another question in myhead and I forgot it.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
No worries.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
For you?
No, it truly is it truly is.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
It's fun.
I mean, I put it in a placewhere I can look out my kitchen
window and see it and see peoplestopping and interacting with
it.
Now here's an interesting fact.
You'd think it would be a riskto put something out in a public
area where people are going tointeract with it.
No, would it be damaged, wouldthere be graffiti put on it,
(20:04):
would people write somethingthat was vulgar or out of, in
poor taste?
And in the seven years thatit's been out there, not once
has that happened.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
That's incredible.
That's incredible.
That's incredible because, yeah, I mean, as I don't know, I
don't want to say it's humannature, but maybe, as far as
kids are concerned, for exampleI'm sure you have plenty of
teens in the neighborhood it'salmost like too tempting to not
do something.
(20:39):
I have never done this myself,but you know what people do to
mailboxes and whatnot.
Oh yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
And yet I think they sent something so good in the
post that they wouldn't dare.
It does well.
It could be that it could bethat um one other element of it.
So at night it does.
It is illuminated because I havea solar light on the top I was
going to ask about that so you,all times of the day, you can
see it, and I'm not saying thatscares away the ruffians, but
people have just been very kindand gentle with it and it's
(21:26):
there.
I haven't touched it for sevenyears.
It's just steadily planted inthe ground.
I have a rock step path thatgoes up to it and I've got the
beginnings of a garden around itwhich will be expanded this
year, and it should justcontinue to go on and on and on.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Maybe we call it the blessing garden post.
Yeah, I don't know.
No, the post is the main thing,so yeah, yeah Well, everyone
sees the double entendre there.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
right, it's a post, but you also post.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Oh, I did not catch that because I'm not very bright
.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
No.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
No, that's fantastic.
No, that's fantastic.
And, Don, I really, really,really appreciate the time that
you've taken today to come upand chat with me.
I absolutely love everythingabout the Blessing Post and
folks.
If you're ever out in thePlymouth area and you want to
stop by and take a look at it,I'm sure Don would love to have
(22:33):
you.
Not that I'm going to send alot of people to your house, Don
.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Well, it's on the path that connects Yellowstone
Lane from Cottage Grove Court.
Oh, okay, implement In theneighborhood of Saddlebrook.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Maybe I'll sneak out there and I'll do something
silly like put balloons on it orsomething.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Perfect, you are most welcome.
Well, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
You're so, so welcome .
I appreciate you and Iappreciate what you're doing and
you're making the world abetter place, sir.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Step by step, mike, let's do that.
All right, it's a deal.
All right, better place, sir.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Step by step, mike, let's do that.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
All right, it's a deal.
All right, be well, sir.
Thanks for your time.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
All right, bye-bye.
I want to thank you for takingthis time to listen to this
episode with my guest, donPrisby.
I hope that you are able totake something positive from the
time you spent here.
Maybe you'll be inspired, maybeyou'll be motivated to put a
blessing post up in yourneighborhood, maybe you'll be
(23:41):
moved.
If you experienced any of thosepositive feelings, please
consider sharing this podcastwith your friends and family.
I'm always striving to offeryou a better podcast, so give me
some feedback.
Let me know how you think I'mdoing.
You can email me, leave amessage on my socials it would
mean the world to me and alsofeel free to follow us on our
(24:05):
socials like Facebook, instagram, linkedin, tiktok, you name it.
This podcast is part of theMayday Media Network.
If you have an idea for apodcast and need some production
assistance, or if you have apodcast and are looking for a
supportive network to join,check out maydaymedianetworkcom
(24:34):
and check out the many differentshows, like Afrocentric Spoil,
my Movie Generation Mixtape In aPickle Radio Show, wake Up and
Dream with D Anthony Palin,staxo, pax and the Time Pals.
We'll be back again next weekwith a new episode and we would
be honored if you would join us.
You've been listening to theKindness Matters Podcast.
I am your host, mike Rathbun.
(24:56):
Have a fantastic week.
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