Sidewalks in Indianapolis and Broad Ripple are spray-painted with inspirational messages for Indiana residents and visitors to enjoy while exploring various attractions.
The artist, Kimberly Brown or “Boots,” is originally from Chicago but travels from place to place to leave marks in other cities. The artwork has been in 37 different states.
“Invest love in the ones who stay,” Boots said.
This frequently-used message tells viewers that it is easy to get caught up in failed and ended relationships, but it is more beneficial for mental health to focus on the ones who want to be around and put in the effort. Overall, it is healthier to give back to those who give.
The quotes specifically can touch younger people, as high school students have as complicated dating lives as adults.
A vast difference is that high school is an essential developmental and fast-changing time for humans. The impact Boots’ messages make on other people is a massive motivation for continuing the project.
Seniors Gabby Stevens and Sylvia Wheeler frequently visit downtown and the Broad Ripple area. They read the messages created by Boots when they are available.
“I think these messages have a positive impact because a lot of things can be going through a person’s head or my head, and just looking at a simple message like that is calming towards realizing life isn’t as complicated as it seems,” Stevens said.
Wheeler finds the placement of these quotes, everyday sidewalks, a nice change in pace.
“I see these sometimes downtown,” Wheeler said. “I don’t usually look at inspirational messages, but I should more often because they are cute and let people know they’re not alone.”
Standards for dating and young relationships constantly change, making heartbreak and recovery messages more relatable. Nowadays, relationships have become more social media-focused, and it is less common for teenagers to have a committed long-term relationship because more casual relationships are also popular.
“Dating standards have changed over the years; I think people have become more insecure because of social media,” Stevens said. “I think it would be helpful to take a step back and truly trust the people they are dating.”
Wheeler thinks dating standards have changed for the better and the worse. It is good because women are not expected to depend on men, but it has taken some of the romance out of relationships.
“It is not about spending lots of money; it is about effort,” Wheeler said. “I feel like when money became more important, people adjusted to putting in less effort as well.”
Sharing messages that express pain and sadness has a way of connecting people together, unifying them over a hurtful experience. Focusing on core values while pursuing new relationships or recovering from an old one that ended is essential.
Similar to other forms of literature, poetry teaches emotional awareness and gives young people a form of expressing difficult emotions. It exposes people to complex vocabulary, ideas, rhythm and rhymes.
