[00:00:00] Shannon Morris: Well, our local Y-M-C-A-I did a little garden in that area, um, in the playground area where just planted some flowers and we did like a mural from the children's book, let Your Heart Light Shine. We did that on the wall there and just made it like a cute, inviting little place for kids. It was one of the things.
[00:00:18] Shannon Morris: That I found helped me too was actually getting out and planting and like you said, watching things grow. And then again, when I go and see things come back up in the spring, I think that's another way it helps you heal. 'cause like you were saying, you start with a seed and then you see the flower bloom and then often.
[00:00:34] Shannon Morris: You know, the perennials of you'll see come up again. And that's, that's healing I think as well to know that like life comes back.
[00:00:50] Deanna Kitchen: Hey friend, welcome to the Grand Kindness Podcast. I'm your host, Deanna Kitchen. Founder of the Growing Kindness Movement, this is a place where we grow together learning to root our lives in kindness, connection, and community. If you've ever wished the world felt a little softer, a little more neighborly, or if you're craving stories that remind you that goodness still grows.
[00:01:09] Deanna Kitchen: You're in the right place. Together with our guests, we'll share stories of generosity and community proof that even the smallest acts of kindness from growing and giving cut flowers to everyday acts of care, can change lives and connect us in powerful ways. I'm so glad you're here. Let's get started.
[00:01:34] Deanna Kitchen: Welcome back to the podcast. Today's conversation is a tender one. I am honored to be joined by Shannon Morris today. Shannon, um, is a mother who after the loss of her daughter, Fallon, has found a way of moving forward through kindness and acts of kindness. And we're honored to get to have you here with us, Shannon today.
[00:01:59] Deanna Kitchen: And get to hear your story and hold space for your story, and you and I have had the privilege of having some conversations, just the two of us, and I have walked away from them feeling hopefully reminded of the power of kindness and what it can carry us through, even through some of the hardest.
[00:02:21] Deanna Kitchen: Experiences that we can face.
[00:02:23] Shannon Morris: Well, thank you for having me, Fallon, with our eldest daughter. She was 24 and traveling home from New York City and there was a snow storm. She was in a car accident. So we lost her that day. And one of the ways I have found that has helped me is to carry on who she was and she was just such a kind, sweet person that that is one of the things that really I found.
[00:02:49] Shannon Morris: Helps me is, is helping others and showing acts of kindness because that's who Fallon was as a person. And we had originally, her and I had talked about starting a website because she was living in New York City and just outta college. And one of the things we said we could do on the side would be like a website.
[00:03:06] Shannon Morris: And with her being in the city, she could shop and we could find cool things to sell. So I had already established the name, which was Sos Gray, which serves meaning sisters and French and Gray. For my son Grayson. I have three girls and a boy. You know, before the accident happened, we had just came up with the name.
[00:03:26] Shannon Morris: So it was just something we had just talked about. So after all this happened, really you're just numb in the beginning. So you really can't, you know, it just doesn't feel real. But, um, one of the things I thought I have to do is. Follow through with what we talked about, but instead of making it so much a website, I made it more about Fallon.
[00:03:46] Shannon Morris: So then we also did the Fallon Morris Foundation, which is connected to the source gray. We do a perfume named Fallon, which is sold at a local spot. It was actually a friend of mine who has a shop in Bedford, PA that mentioned doing a perfume for her and, and I love that idea. So that's how that came about.
[00:04:06] Shannon Morris: I came across your website, the growing kindness, which I thought was just awesome, where you give the flower, you grew flowers and give flowers. And so that's one of the things I've also incorporated when I do things in honor of Fallon, that we give flowers, we attach a little pass it on kindness card in honor of her.
[00:04:26] Shannon Morris: So that's been something we did at college campuses. She attended Penn State, so we have an endowment for her there. So we try to do kindness things for. Students. And then we also, I did a children's storybook inspired by Fallon, of course, about kindness and the importance of empathy and mindfulness for kids.
[00:04:47] Shannon Morris: We did an outdoor permanent walk where they can walk through as they read the book. It's in permanent posts there. And we also did flowers there, and I'd love to expand on that and add, you know, kids growing gardens and things like that.
[00:05:02] Deanna Kitchen: Oh, Shannon, you're doing a lot. It's, I think that all of us, you know, who have either navigated through a loss in grief like you have or have faced life changing moments, you, you want to hold and believe that on the other side, that's how you'll carry forward a legacy and.
[00:05:30] Deanna Kitchen: This is just such a beautiful picture of a life. Well. Honored through kindness. Shannon, you mentioned at the beginning that, that it just, the grief just felt numb and, and any of us could only imagine, especially I think a mother, what that experience could have felt like and been like. Did doing things in honor of Fallon, was that the thing that helped you move?
[00:06:00] Deanna Kitchen: Through that grief and forward, or was this something that came later as the grief began to subside?
[00:06:08] Shannon Morris: Well, I don't think there's any time limit on grief, obviously. Like I, it could hit me today. It hit me five years ago. But you learn how to carry it. You don't get over. You learn how to carry that grief.
[00:06:23] Shannon Morris: 'cause I think a lot of people, you know, I had a friend that lost the son and she came to me and said, when does this like hurting? When does this pain stop? And I'm like I said, I hate to say this to you, but it doesn't like, I think you learn how to carry it. You learn how to live with carrying their spirit forward with you.
[00:06:40] Shannon Morris: I really do believe that. Our children, our loved ones that we lose. I believe they're still with us. I mean, in a different way. Of course, it's sad. You can't physically hug them or see them, but I truly feel in my heart that she is with me guiding me. I don't know why what happened happened, but Fallon would always say things to me like she didn't think she was going to get old, and she, it was almost like.
[00:07:07] Shannon Morris: Some people know, I mean, I don't think she knew what was gonna happen obviously that day, but I think she knew she wasn't gonna be one of those people, you know, growing, growing old here on earth. So I, I sort of feel like she was an old soul. She seemed to know what was important before most people, you know, only being 24, yet she seemed to really know what's important in life.
[00:07:30] Shannon Morris: And a lot of people in their twenties don't quite get that, but all her friends. They all said how she made them feel special and how kind she was. I never really heard Fallon say a bad word about anyone. She always handled people with such grace and kindness and understanding. So I think basically what I've done is just thought I have to try to be more like she was.
[00:07:50] Shannon Morris: That's how I honor her. So, I mean, have I had days where I don't wanna get outta bed? Yeah, of course. But then I think, how is that honoring my child? How is that honoring my other children that are still here, that, you know, they're hurting as well. So we're all gonna die at some point. And it's so sad and it definitely shouldn't be a child or a young person that had so much life yet to give, but you know, we have to remember that life is precious and the stuff we often worry about really.
[00:08:18] Shannon Morris: I think it is about the simple things, and that was something Alan always said too, is like, keep it simple. I think that's so true. Like she just wanted to enjoy her time here. And I look back now and I think of all the times I sort of, you know, missed where. She was just that light, that joyful spirit. So I just try to remind myself now if I start taking something too serious, like, how would Fallon handle this?
[00:08:42] Shannon Morris: Or how would you know? And I just, I try to be more like she was, you know, she, she was better than I am and I'm just trying to be more like her. So I think our kids teach us a lot too.
[00:08:52] Deanna Kitchen: Truly, I think every parent can agree in not holding that, that dream for our own children, that they will. Become more of who they are and more, you know, in that than, than we are.
[00:09:04] Deanna Kitchen: You know, that every generation moves forward with more hope and more generosity and more compassion. And it sounds like Fallon in every way embraced that and, and moved through the world with just a tenderness and a kindness.
[00:09:22] Shannon Morris: Yeah. She was just naturally, that's who she was. I have to honor that. I think that's why it was really important to me to do acts of kindness and that's what helps me get through.
[00:09:31] Shannon Morris: I mean, when I'm helping someone else feel better, that also helps me feel better, as you know. That's part of it. I mean, I guess sometimes it's a bit of a selfish thing as well because we're, we're doing it of course to help someone else, but we're also helping ourselves in turn. I think if everybody realized that, you know, the world would be a lot better off,
[00:09:47] Deanna Kitchen: truly, and I think I have felt the very same thing some of the seasons I've walked through in life and, and.
[00:09:54] Deanna Kitchen: And I cannot, you know, say they were in any regard to the same as what you have navigated through. But I have found that same experience of, you know, when I was dealing with anxiety, it was like going and doing for others kind of helped me get out of my own head. It brought back joy. I can understand that fully.
[00:10:18] Deanna Kitchen: And there were times where sometimes we would go to long-term care to share flowers and it almost, I almost felt like the same, like, am I doing this for them or am I doing this for me? Because I, I know I desperately need this today. I know this is going to make me feel better. And yet when you look at the bigger picture that when, you know, we talk about, especially in motherhood when we're healthier, more whole parents, then we have so much more to give.
[00:10:44] Deanna Kitchen: To our children. And, and I think that as, just as humans, when we're doing things that are helping us to heal and to feel joy and a sense of purpose and belonging and a ahead of oxytocin, like those things help us to be better individuals. And that, in turn helps us to show up for our friends, our families, our communities in a, in a way that's.
[00:11:13] Deanna Kitchen: Helpful and authentic. And so really, I mean. I don't, I don't think we can call it selfish. Right.
[00:11:19] Shannon Morris: Well, I think that's what we're supposed to be doing. We're we're supposed to be here to help each other. And I think, you know, and like you said, the kids and everything have so much anxiety now, and yet they have more probably than ever, as far as you know, they're on social media.
[00:11:34] Shannon Morris: The things they worry about. I mean, you know, it happens to all of us, but when you really sit down and think about it. I mean, we're all pretty lucky how we live here. There's, you know, of course parts of the world that don't get to live like we do, but I think when, you know, we need to start bringing some humanity back, I mean, it definitely, it feeds us, I think when we help others and, and in turn, we're feeding.
[00:11:58] Shannon Morris: You know, it helps both sides.
[00:12:00] Deanna Kitchen: There's a reciprocity to it, you know, it isn't, it isn't just a take, and it isn't just a give, it's, it's mutual. And I think that's why it's, it's so powerful. Uh, it's simple but powerful. Shannon, you, you mentioned earlier that, you know, helping your other children navigate through this grief has also been, you know, a, a, a huge part of your life.
[00:12:23] Deanna Kitchen: In this season, can you share more about how the work that you're doing, how that's impacted you as a family?
[00:12:32] Shannon Morris: Well, honestly, I don't think we talk about it a whole lot. Maybe like we should. We have, like of course, I still talk about Fallon as far as sitting down, talking about our grief with one another. I can't say we've done that a whole lot.
[00:12:43] Shannon Morris: I think the main thing is showing by example. Is, you know, they see me, you know, trying to move forward carrying Fallon's memory and I know they see it. They're all great kids and you know, they're just finding their way, I'm sure too. And I think there's certain things. We can't really help someone else through.
[00:13:02] Shannon Morris: I think there's certain things we have to work through on our own. I mean, I hope they all know I'm here if they ever wanna talk about it, but I think we've all sort of found our own little ways and paths to, to deal with our grief, which, you know, I try to be respectful of theirs and. Them of mine. And, um, I just think the main thing is just that they know they're loved and that how much, you know, their sister is still loved and carried forward and, and I'm sure they all do as well, like even in their every day, just knowing a Fallon was, I think, enough for all of us to know that, that she was such a special person.
[00:13:39] Shannon Morris: It's important to carry forward her values. And her joy, you know, she was, she was a lot of, a lot of fun and just a good kind person that I think, I know that we'll carry her with them. So I definitely feel like she's still being carried forward with us and, and still guiding all of us. You know, I think, I feel like we have a guardian angel sort of looking out for all of us, so, and guiding our way.
[00:14:04] Shannon Morris: So I think it was grief too. Like you had said something I thought about when you were talking earlier is. When we start feeling bad for ourselves, that's, that's a downward spiral to get on. You know, I think it's okay to feel sad, but I think who are we really feeling bad for? When we, when we're, when we lose someone, we're feeling bad for ourself because the person that passed on has now crossed, I like to believe, crossed over and they're at peace.
[00:14:29] Shannon Morris: So it's us that are left here thinking about how much we miss them. So I think if we tend to focus too much on. Our sadness. It, it sometimes then will just, I think, take us down. I think it's okay to be sad, but I also think it's like you sort of have to make yourself get up and, and do something and honor that person that you're missing.
[00:14:51] Shannon Morris: I guess that's something that I, I try to do, but you know, we all have our moments and that's okay. It's just, I think one of the things I've tried to do and think about is, okay, how can I. Honor my daughter and how can I carry her, her goodness and kindness forward.
[00:15:06] Deanna Kitchen: And then in, in doing that, you truly have created a, a legacy of kindness and are sending out these really beautiful ripples of kindness in the world.
[00:15:18] Deanna Kitchen: And, and the really lovely thing I think about, I often think about ripples and seeds. When it comes to kindness, because I think they're both really beautiful analogies for the way that it moves into and forward in the world. You know, you think about a flower that goes to seed, and those seeds spread a little farther than where that that flower originally grew, and they, and they plant even more flowers, and then those grow and go to seed and spread a little farther.
[00:15:46] Deanna Kitchen: And so it's just this. Continuation and this multiplication of kindness. And then the same, you know, when we drop a pebble into a pond, you know, the ripples just move out and, and they'll keep going and going and going until they bump into something. And sometimes if you throw in, you know, several stones in a pond, the ripples will start to intersect each other as well.
[00:16:09] Deanna Kitchen: And, and I love to think about kindness like that, that we don't really necessarily. Get to see the end, you know, where the ripple stops moving. Um, but there are moments where we do get to see the growth and the impact directly, and it's such a, it's such a reassurance of that process that what we see is just a little picture of actually the unseen work of kindness that's continuing to move forward.
[00:16:36] Deanna Kitchen: And I think it's, it's a, a gift for, even for myself to get to. Know Fallon just a little bit through your story and through your work that you're doing.
[00:16:47] Shannon Morris: Thank you. Well, you had mentioned, I think when you said about the ripple effect, I think how we're all connected. I mean, what we do. To other people is it affects more than just that person, you know, good or bad.
[00:17:00] Shannon Morris: So I think we have to remember that too. It's, we're all connected. People are just, I mean, how we treat others does matter. It seems minor, but it's, it's major, but, and it can be simple little things. Yeah,
[00:17:11] Deanna Kitchen: absolutely. You, you know, you are doing both. Small, beautiful things and, and bigger things through Fallon's Foundation, um, ways of spreading kindness.
[00:17:23] Deanna Kitchen: And we talked a little bit about that kind of in the opening, but can we jump in and just talk a little bit more about that now? One of the things that you and I have discussed is that flowers have become one of the many ways that you have been spreading kindness. Inval Honor, can you share more about those experiences?
[00:17:46] Deanna Kitchen: Maybe just kind of how they came together and how the, maybe how the inspiration came to you and, and how those played out in your community?
[00:17:53] Shannon Morris: Yeah. Well, our local YMCA, I did a little garden in that area. In the playground area where just planted some flowers and we did like a mural from the children's book, let Your Heart Light Shine.
[00:18:06] Shannon Morris: We did that on the wall there and just made it like a cute, inviting little place for kids. It was one of the things that I found helped me too, was actually getting out and planting and like you said, watching things grow. And then again, when I go and see things come back up in the spring, I think that's another way it helps you heal.
[00:18:23] Shannon Morris: 'cause like you were saying, you start with a seed. And then you see the flower bloom, and then often, you know, the perennials of you'll see come up again. And that's, that's healing I think as well to know that like life comes back, you know, it goes, it has a full cycle. But, so one of the things I did find that helped was planting, um, we did this storybook walk, which we also were planting flowers.
[00:18:47] Shannon Morris: And I, like I said, I'd like to expand on that in the future. Have kids there, gardening and things like that. And also handing out the flowers with the kindness cards. Yeah, nature flowers have definitely played a role in helping with grief as well. So, and acts of kindness, because I don't know if you have that, that I had sent you, I, I forwarded to you through email and Fallon even had the poem about the lovely bud.
[00:19:12] Shannon Morris: When she was 15, um, her English class read, uh, Tuesdays with Maury, and then they were to write how they'd like to be remembered. And I remember thinking like, what kind, what teacher would have these 15 year olds write a story about how they wanna be remembered? But I found Fallon, it was amazing, and she just said, um, I don't have it here on me, a copy of it, but, um, I made copies for myself and my children because Fallon laid out how she wanted to be remembered.
[00:19:40] Shannon Morris: And it was basically her just saying how she knows everyone would be sad, but she would want us to move on and, and, you know, move forward and be happy. It, it was just amazing that she, and that I found that in her room afterwards, like, and that was 10 years later. I mean, she wrote it when she was 15 and she was almost 25 when she had her accident.
[00:20:00] Shannon Morris: So the fact that I have that from her. You know, so I did reach out to her English teacher and I'm like, oh my gosh, I can't tell you how much this helped me. And I remember at the time thinking, what a weird assignment to give these kids a 15.
[00:20:12] Deanna Kitchen: Absolutely, absolutely. It feels, it feels, um, maybe more morbid to say like, what do you want?
[00:20:17] Shannon Morris: Yeah. It was a little morbid. And I remember thinking like, oh my gosh. And then I just sort of forgot about it. And then I had been in Fallon's room, just, you know, going through things and, you know, I do ask for signs and I do believe in signs. I believe we get them. And I came across that. Paper. It was just amazing to read.
[00:20:35] Shannon Morris: She had a poem on there too. The lovely Bud, so Young, so Fair, called Off by Earthly Doom, just came to show how sweet a flower and paradise could bloom. And she had that at the top of her paper, which I, of course made a copy of and have it with her picture on the back. And it's strange how she said in the beginning, it's a, it's a tragedy that Fallon Morris died so young, like she was writing this.
[00:20:58] Shannon Morris: And like, so I find this and I'm just like, this is incredible. She just said too about she was a happy girl who loved to laugh and goof around and she loved her family and friends. Like it just goes on. I mean, I'm not gonna read the whole thing, but you know, it, it was just almost like she wrote it to me, you know?
[00:21:17] Shannon Morris: But yet she wrote it 10 years earlier. Things like that, you know, like I feel like. She knew I'd need it.
[00:21:24] Deanna Kitchen: I say I think you, you know, you've mentioned at the beginning that it was as if Fallon had this sense of knowing that life was going to be short and lived it very intentionally and kindly and with such light and tenderness and yet, you know, and you also mentioned like we all are realities is we all will be leaving this earth and how beautiful then.
[00:21:48] Deanna Kitchen: To have lived those years and perhaps even the process of writing that down and setting that intention of how do I want to be remembered, helped Fallon to walk through the days that she did have with intentionality and, uh, a sense of, of purpose about who she was becoming. So that, that's who she would be remembered as.
[00:22:14] Deanna Kitchen: And I know, I, I actually, it's, it's not shocking to me that the act and the process only because years ago, uh, of, of write, like essentially writing your own obituary. I. Years ago, a, a business mentor had suggested that if you really want to clarify your goals and your purposes and your intentions, sit down and write as if you're, you know, you've lived 80, 90 years, whatever it is that you think it will be, and, and what will be the things that you'll be remembered for.
[00:22:52] Deanna Kitchen: And remembered as, and how would you want people to, what, what's your legacy? You know, what are you, what are you leaving? And, and so my husband and I sat, sat down and did that, and it feels, it feels very, very strange, you know, in that process. And yet on the other side of, of having a very crystal clear picture of these are the things that actually matter most to me.
[00:23:20] Deanna Kitchen: And then having the per the ability then to filter decisions and actions through that lens of does this align with who? I wanna become and who I wanna be remembered as and how beautiful that Fallon's teacher gave her that gift to walk through that process. And, uh, you do wonder how much did that impact how she navigated through her days.
[00:23:48] Deanna Kitchen: But clearly she did so with purpose and intentionality to be a kind, generous, giving young lady, and especially. You know, I mean, we've all, we all were in our late teens and early twenties and being thoughtful of others and being, you know, just what you shared about Fallon and the way that she navigated through her friendships, that she made everybody feel seen, and that that's not something that just happens by accident.
[00:24:17] Deanna Kitchen: That's someone being intentional and purposeful about wanting to show up for others and in this world in that way. So it's really. Beautiful to see that what she sowed and then this as the flower seed. That's what's continuing to be sewn, you know, through her, through her legacy and through your foundation.
[00:24:40] Shannon Morris: Yeah. There was a poem, it was like Indio proverb, I think it was on my bio, um, for the book that I had enjoyed. So I copied it there and it was something like, the seeds we sow today are the flowers of Tomorrow. And I think of children sort of that way as well. Like, you know, we're all gonna reap what we sow type thing.
[00:25:02] Shannon Morris: Um, obviously there's bad things that happen to good people all the time, but I'm saying, like you said, what we carry forward, what we get from, from those seeds, those flowers, you know, and what we choose to carry forward is really important.
[00:25:15] Deanna Kitchen: It really is. And I love what you mentioned about. The process of gardening and how healing it is to us.
[00:25:22] Deanna Kitchen: And part of it is in that experience of watching the life cycle and the, the hope, you know, we're, we're moving through the darker days of winter now, but you know the hope that is ahead. And that those just tiny little buds are a reminder to us of that it is a natural process to let go in, in so many ways in our lives, whether that's a, a loss of a loved one or, or you know, the end of a chapter of our lives, um, or a season or whatever it is.
[00:25:57] Deanna Kitchen: But then there's also this. Renewing a new life, you know, that that is coming and there's, there's hope that we can hold onto in that. And I definitely, um, it's been my honor and privilege to get to walk along and hear so many stories from those who have navigated a loss. And use gardening as a tool to help them through that because of just what you named, you know, that process of, of not only just being outside, you know, our hands in the soil, our face in the sun, but also to see that life cycle and that renewal happening, you know, right before our eyes and the hopeful reminder that it is.
[00:26:38] Deanna Kitchen: Shannon, you have, I just think resilience, you know, when I hear your story is just you've chosen to keep moving forward with such intention and such purpose, and allowing that, you know, to be a catalyst, to remember Fallon, but also to spread more kindness just as the example that you saw in her life is, is so beautiful.
[00:27:01] Deanna Kitchen: Shannon, for someone who's listening today who may be walking through a season of loss or grief, what would you want them to know about getting through something that you never wanted to have to get through?
[00:27:18] Shannon Morris: I know one of the things I, I lost my sister too, so I know, um, my mom experienced child loss and then the loss for her granddaughter, and I remember one of the things she said to me when it happened was.
[00:27:29] Shannon Morris: It's gonna be okay. And I remember thinking, this is never going to be okay. And obviously it's not okay what happened, but what I'm saying is. Or maybe she said you'll be okay. I don't remember the exact wording, but I think to know you'll never be the same but you will be okay. And that you will, you know, like I said, you will learn a way to carry that, your loved one with you.
[00:27:53] Shannon Morris: And I think, you know, we're all gonna experience loss at some point, and so we do have to learn how to. Carry that loved one with us and know that, that you will get through it as dark as it may get. And has, there's definitely times you just feel like, how am I gonna go on living? How am I gonna go on getting up every day?
[00:28:12] Shannon Morris: But, but you do, and, and in time and when you find those healthy ways, I think, to deal with it and, and you're, they are still with you. Like, I feel like you don't really. Lose them. You lose them in a physical sense, but you don't really lose them. They're still right there. So I think you just have to remind yourself of that.
[00:28:31] Shannon Morris: And it can be hard. I'm not gonna say it's not hard and um, you're gonna have days. But I think, like you said, get out and. Maybe grow some flowers or do something nice for somebody and, and that will help.
[00:28:43] Deanna Kitchen: That's beautiful advice. Shannon, when you imagine Fallon today, what do you hope her legacy teaches the rest of us about how to love each other.
[00:28:52] Shannon Morris: I think just having like that grace and love for one another is not it, it's, I think we complicate it. I think she, um, just naturally walked her, you know, through her life that way, where, you know, she was just a joy to be around and she made other people feel special. I think that's just the type of person she was.
[00:29:15] Shannon Morris: We did a Zoom service for Fallon because it was during COVID. 2020 when she passed. I mean, I remember at the time thinking I couldn't do anything and, and you know, my husband's like, you know, we have to do this for friends and family and you know, people are gonna need this. So, so we did, and at the end we let people sort of.
[00:29:33] Shannon Morris: Come onto the Zoom if they had something they wanted to share or a story about Fallon, and that was the most meaningful part to me actually, when we got to hear from, you know, her friends and, and family people we, you know, knew years ago when Fallon was a child and, and one woman. It stuck out to me. She came on and she said when she heard the news, she was just shocked and, and she was a nurse and she said that her daughter and Fallon went to elementary school together.
[00:29:59] Shannon Morris: She said she remembers Fallon. She goes, it wasn't like we stayed close. And she goes, her and her, her daughter and Fallon weren't good friends, but she said, I remember when she was having a hard time in school, Fallon was one of the few people that was like nice to her and you know, befriended her and was kind to her at school.
[00:30:15] Shannon Morris: And I just thought, wow. So she would've been probably like. I don't know, maybe seven or eight years old. And even at that age, she was just a kind person that made people feel seen and heard and comfortable. And I think, you know, she even said I knew should grow up to be. Such a wonderful person because even at that age, like she knew what was important.
[00:30:42] Shannon Morris: So I just think I was so lucky to have been her mom and that I was allowed to have her for as long as I did, would've. I have loved to have her much longer. Of course, they're not supposed to go before we do. Like I said, I am. I like to think that she got to live some really good, happy years and that she enjoyed her life while she was here.
[00:31:02] Shannon Morris: And I like to think that she's experiencing a new existence, you know? And I like to think that she. Was called to a higher purpose and that she's serving that purpose now, and I know she's helped me become better. I think most people that knew her are pro are definitely better for it.
[00:31:17] Deanna Kitchen: Well, if we, and I think just a picture, you know, like the, the ripples of kindness that are moving through, um, through.
[00:31:24] Deanna Kitchen: The Fallon Morris Foundation now, and even, you know, through those who are listening in today and get to hear her story and, and get to carry those tender seeds of kindness in their heart now as well. Can you share with us just a little bit about. What's ahead for the Fallon Morris Foundation and ways that anyone listening could get more connected or, or learn more, be a part of the work that you're doing?
[00:31:53] Shannon Morris: Well, we do have a website, um, source gray.com, which is S-O-E-U-R-S. Dot com. And if you look up the Felon Morris Foundation, you should be able to find it that way too. But we list on there a lot of the different things that we are doing and trying to do. Um, we do a couple scholarship. We do a chicken soup program with Penn State University where, um, it's through the Hillel and if there's a six student, they can have free soup chicken soup delivered to them at no cost.
[00:32:24] Shannon Morris: And I just thought that seemed sort of. Just such a natural way, a wholesome like it. It just seemed like Fallon to me, like a wholesome way to share an act of kindness. Some of the other things we're doing kindness and mindfulness fund with her sorority that she was in at Penn State. There's a lot of different things that, uh, we do a free coffee day on Fallon's birthday.
[00:32:47] Shannon Morris: Fallon, like most young people loved ice coffee, so she was always drinking. You could always hear her with a coffee in her hand. I remember on her birthday I wanted to do something special and I was thinking, I know people, like, sometimes they'll buy a cake and, you know, donate it to somebody. And I was thinking, well, Fallon liked coffee.
[00:33:02] Shannon Morris: So I went to one of the local coffee shops and I said, you know, could I do a gift card? And you give out free coffees throughout the day. So, um, I've been doing that every year on her birthday for the last five years, which is, is really nice and I think people enjoy that. And it, you know, I enjoy, see people getting the free coffee and, and then he said, um, the owner of the coffee shop actually said some people will add to it.
[00:33:25] Shannon Morris: Like, they'll add to the gift card and say, oh, let's keep it going. Yes. And, and you know, it's as simple as that. And it's as simple as like a free cup of coffee or you know, like you said, free flowers. And um, so that's some of the things we do and I would love to continue and grow. I'm always coming up with these like, sometimes crazy ideas, but if it speaks to me, I just go with it.
[00:33:46] Shannon Morris: You know? I don't over question things anymore. I just think, well, there's a reason I might have thought about that. Like, well, even talking to you, you know, reaching out to you about your growing kindness. Um, and how I was inspired by that. I feel like I don't overthink it anymore, where before I might not have, but it's like now I'm thinking, well, there must be a reason I thought about that.
[00:34:04] Shannon Morris: You know, whether, you know, it's, it's Fallon or you know, I figured there's a reason it came to my mind, so I try to follow through with it.
[00:34:12] Deanna Kitchen: Truly trusting. I think there's a lot of beauty in that and I think that that is, you know, I think you said we have, we, none of us know the days that we have, and so let's use.
[00:34:22] Deanna Kitchen: Let's use them wisely and let's use them for good. And uh, but also a part of that is trusting that like when our heart's leading us, you know, then we, we follow, we follow what that prompting is. So I will make sure, um, Shannon, that we. Connect in the show notes, um, the links to the Fallon Morris Foundation.
[00:34:43] Deanna Kitchen: We can also, um, we'll share, be sharing the link for the children's book that you wrote in memory of Fallon. I think it's a beautifully inspiring story, um, for parents listening, grandparents listening teachers. Uh, it's a beautiful tool for teaching empathy and kindness. Um, so we'll make sure that those things are linked in the show notes so that anyone listening now could continue, um, to connect.
[00:35:07] Deanna Kitchen: With, with Fallon's story and, and with her legacy. Um, through, through those things. I just, I wanna thank you for holding space and sharing with us today. I think that your willingness to share your story is going to be an opportunity for someone listening today who may be navigating through grief themselves.
[00:35:30] Deanna Kitchen: That is going to hold out a reminder of hope and. A purpose for the beautiful ways that we can carry on the memories of those we love and the ways that we can allow even the, the hardest things can result in beautiful opportunity for our own growth and for our opportunity to spread kindness and, and bring people together.
[00:35:55] Deanna Kitchen: So thank you for, for sharing with me and with us all. Is a very tender story and I want you to know that we're, we're holding it closely and with tenderness.
[00:36:07] Shannon Morris: Well, thank you and I appreciate you allowing me to tell Fallon's story and. Hopefully, um, you know, people will know that they can get through some of the most terrible things and, you know, be okay and, and just maybe, hopefully, you know, do something kind for somebody.
[00:36:23] Shannon Morris: And I think that's what it's all about.
[00:36:25] Deanna Kitchen: Yeah, I agree. I I love that you, what you shared, that it's, it's a beautiful way to bring healing into our lives, but then also to, to spread kindness when we, when we allow those things to move us into action and service. Shannon, every episode we end with the same question.
[00:36:42] Deanna Kitchen: And I think it's a reminder to us all that even the very smallest things can have a tremendous impact in someone's life. And so the question is, what is one small kind thing that someone has once done for you that you still carry in your heart today?
[00:36:58] Shannon Morris: You know, I thought about this and I've had so many people, so many friends step up when I need anything at all.
[00:37:04] Shannon Morris: Um, that have helped me on different projects that I've done for Fallon. But the one thing, and the one person would be. Fallon, the grace and love she gave me that I carry with me every day and everything I do. So I would say that's it. And I know that's not a small thing, that's a big thing, but it's, and you know, it's the small things that do matter that are the big thing.
[00:37:25] Shannon Morris: So yeah, I would say the grace and love that, that Fallon still gives me each day.
[00:37:35] Deanna Kitchen: Thank you so much for listening to the Growing Kindness podcast. It means the world that you take the time to be here every time you show up. Every time you listen in, community grows. If today's episode encouraged you, there are a few simple ways to keep growing kindness with us. First, you can join the team.
[00:37:50] Deanna Kitchen: When you become a growing kindness gardener, you link arms with like-minded like-hearted people from all around the world who believe that small acts of kindness really do make a big difference. As a gardener, you'll receive access to resources, inspiration, and connection to help you grow and give flowers is acts of kindness in your corner of the world.
[00:38:08] Deanna Kitchen: It's for you to join. Another way to get involved is to become a donor. This podcast is made possible by the generosity of our donors. Kindhearted people who believe just like you, that stories of goodness are worth sharing. If you'd like to help us share more stories, just like today's visit growing kindness project.org/donate to make a gift and keep kindness blooming, we'd love to stay connected with you.
[00:38:31] Deanna Kitchen: You can sign up for our newsletter or find us on Instagram at Growing Kindness Project. We'd love to keep in touch and cheer you on as you grow kindness in your community. And finally. If this episode touched your heart, would you share it with a friend? It's one of the simplest ways to spread kindness today.
[00:38:46] Deanna Kitchen: I'm so grateful you're here. Until next time, keep growing kindness. One bloom at a time.
