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Living Your Vision: Christine Mason Miller
Over the past few months, Unconventional Success has been a hot topic on A Beautiful Ripple Effect. Each post prompted unique reactions and a desire to know more. After much brainstorming, I realized that in order to “know more,” we needed to look at the journey from different perspectives. Last month, I announced this realization and the beginning of a new interview series. I could not have imagined a better person to launch this series — since it was this individual who prompted the launch of A Beautiful Ripple Effect.
Purpose of “Living Your Vision” Series: To focus on the journey – the how – of unconventional success. The series emphasizes that life is truly a verb – not solely a string of accomplishments.
Unconventional success redefines what we consider possible – it’s success that has not yet been defined by others. Essentially, it means paving a path through uncharted territory.
Christine Mason Miller is a Santa Monica based writer and artist who has been drawing, painting, creating, writing and exploring ever since she was a little girl. She began her journey as a professional artist in 1995 with the creation of Swirly, which began as a line of handmade greeting cards and evolved into an internationally recognized brand with licensees, clients and retail partners that included Target, Recycled Paper Greetings, Andrews McMeel Universal, Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Girl Scouts of America.
Christine has maintained a strong audience over the years with gallery exhibits of her mixed media work, her website and blog. In 2008 she released Ordinary Sparkling Moments: Reflections on Success and Contentment, a full color self-published book that combines her mixed media work and writing, all aimed at exploring the joys of finding wisdom in everyday life. Her writing has been featured in Skirt! Magazine, The Wish Studio Blog, and This Ordinary Day, and she is is a member of the Squam Art Workshops teaching roster. She was the keynote speaker at Virginia Tech’s Women in Leadership and Philanthropy Conference in June 2009 and her newly released line of inspirational wall art – licensed to Demdaco, Inc. – is off to a strong start, with new designs for a 2010 release already underway.
Christine’s art and writing gives viewers a peek into a variety of details from her life, including travels around the globe and memories shared with her grandma. Using materials as varied as acrylic paints, ink, coffee, mannequins, vintage photographs and other ephemera, Christine’s creations are full of color, texture and hidden stories.
- How are you living your vision?
- It is in the smaller details – being able to live in Los Angeles without a car, having writing deadlines on my calendar, creating a family with my husband.
- When working on an exciting project (one that you are passionate about), how do you quiet your thoughts and shift your mind-set in order to do “other” things?
- It is sometimes challenging; if I lived alone I would likely be a workaholic. But with a home, a husband and a busy social life, there are always plenty of other things that need to get done (and that I enjoy doing), so those other facets of my life help keep me balanced.
- What are three to five lessons you have learned during your personal journey?
- Trust my gut.
- Be true to my word.
- Do my best.
- Remember what really matters.
- Stay in the present.
- How do you acknowledge and celebrate personal success?
- With my husband, family and friends – very often with champagne!
- What is an “ordinary sparkling moment?”
- I actually had a few moments this morning when I saw clearly that is what I was experiencing. My husband and I had just come downstairs – me in my yoga pants, he in his suit for work. He was at our kitchen table reading the paper while I was making coffee and emptying the dishwasher. We weren’t talking much, just doing what we do every single morning. I loved recognizing that this was our routine, this was how we were able to begin our day everyday: Together, with coffee, breakfast, our newspapers and the sun streaming through our windows.
- What are your unfiltered thoughts on “failure?”
- I’ve had plenty of failures, and my perspective of them has evolved into something like this: First of all, when I think of a new idea, project or venture, the first place my mind goes is to what it would look like if that idea succeeded. Even though I’ve failed plenty, I go immediately towards success as a possible outcome, because I have also learned that sometimes it is wise to be careful about what I wish for. We attach these labels to success and failure – one is good and the other is bad – but in fact both have positive and negative elements, and both have the potential to help us grow, evolve and create a more meaningful, authentic life.
- When I think about failure, I try not to attach a label to it. If I try something and it doesn’t work, that is not a reflection on my character, integrity or talent. It is simply one step along my journey, and my job in those situations is to glean whatever lessons they have to offer and take them with me on my next endeavor.
- Complete the prompts in bold.
- I know that I am loved.
- I want to …
- This week: Begin a new painting (something I have been resisting for weeks.)
- This month: Stay centered as the holiday season goes into full swing.
- In this lifetime: Love as deeply and openly as possible, no matter what.
- I don’t know how much longer I have on this earth, so I’m going to savor every minute of it.
- I am an artist.
- What is something you haven’t been asked in an interview that you wish you were asked?
- No one has asked me how much money I make as an artist, and while this is not a question I wish I was asked, I mention this to make a point – that our society places a tremendous value on incomes, salaries and financial ambition, and I think it is easy to go down a road where we equate our success with our balance sheets. I have no problem with financial ambition and success at all, but I also try to remind myself that at the end of the day, that isn’t what is going to truly touch people, inspire them and encourage them to take a leap of their own. No one cares how much money I’ve made, and while I am proud of the financial goals I’ve reached, what I’ve learned is that there is so much more to success, to being inspiring and to creating a meaningful creative career.
- What is an inspirational tip you would like to share with readers?
- Your creative idea, dream, longing? Do it! Your 85-year old self will be so happy you went for it.
- – - – -
Thank you so much, Christine, for opening up your heart and sharing your personal thoughts on A Beautiful Ripple Effect!
The first “Living Your Vision” interview wouldn’t be complete without an incredible giveaway! One lucky reader will receive a limited edition signed hardcover of Ordinary Sparkling Moments. Enter the giveaway by responding to Christine’s question below in the comments section!
Respond by Tuesday December 15th at 11:59 pm EST. Recipient will be chosen via random.org and announced on Wednesday December 16th.
What does your 85-year old self want you to do? Try? Experience? See?
– Updated 12.16.09 –
Congratulations to Rachel — the recipient of the Limited Edition Signed Hardcover of Ordinary Sparkling Moments!!
Related "ripples" you might enjoy:
- Living Your Vision: Carrie McCarthy
- Living Your Vision: Leana May
- Day Three of the Giveaway Celebration Event
- Ordinary Sparkling Moments
- What are you craving?
This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 8:00 am and is filed under Authenticity, Creativity & Inspiration, Living Your Vision. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
15 Responses to “Living Your Vision: Christine Mason Miller”
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my 85 year old self would want me to be less afraid. to put myself out there more + be open to trying anything. she would also want me to travel the world…even on only a dime.
Twitter: benspoont
says:
It is such a privileged to hear such an amazing person like Christine share her insights.
Carolyn — thank you for giving us this!
“To focus on the journey – the how – of unconventional success. The series emphasizes that life is truly a verb – not solely a string of accomplishments.”
Now that is powerful.
Wow Christine you are an inspiration, thank you for sharing this with us Carolyn.
I love what Christine said here “Your creative idea, dream, longing? Do it! Your 85-year old self will be so happy you went for it.”
Nothing could be farther from the truth, I hope I accomplish everything my heart desires so at 85 I can say “I did it!!!”
My 85-year-old self will have no regrets because I will have done the things I’ve wanted to do without worry about “what if” or “what they think”. She will be proud of me. And she will be most grateful I have had amazing friends who inspire me….like Christine!
Kiteboarding! An all-girl-friend vacation in Mexico! Finally publishing my childrens’ books, and always saying yes to adventures and challenges.
I would love to influence each one of my students. I want to know that I made a difference in the world by teaching our future generation. I also want each one of my students to know that they were loved by me because they were never afraid to be who they were!
What an inspirational interview with an extraordinary woman. I’m imagining my 85-year-old self and she says, “Paint.”
My 85 year old self wants me to openly and honestly share my life stories with as many people as possible. I’ve learned that it’s silence that keeps us repeating the same mistake generation after generation, and when we share our struggles and victories, it helps others with theirs.
Thank you so sitting this luminary down and chatting with her! I count her among my dear friends and love seeing her wisdom spelled out!
my 85-year old self would want me to loosen up and take more chances, more lovers, and more pictures … and of course floss!
Twitter: leanamay
says:
The 85 year old Leana wants me to live each day to the fullest, love with all my heart and follow my gut!
My 85 year old self wants to travel all over the world with her suitcase full of art supplies!
What does your 85-year old self want you to do? Try? Experience? See?
my 85 year old self would want me to try another marathon. this time she would want me to relax more and enjoy every single second instead of worrying about every little thing that could go wrong.
she would want me to try to climk kilimanjaro. to experience the joy of being a grandparent and to see myself as beautiful – finally!
ciao
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