Needed
September 9, 2010
Earlier this week I was at the art supply store, and felt compelled to buy a box of 100 Fabriano Medioevalis cards ~ they are 3 1/2″ x 5 1/4″, watercolor paper-ish single cards with textured edges. I brought them home, and after adding a little color to the edges with watercolor, I began to write a series of my “You are…” messages with ink and a brush. I don’t know how many I created in that first sitting, but during that time I shifted into a quiet, meditative state of mind, focusing on one word at a time, letting the meaning of each message sink into my heart. These weren’t for a job, a project, or Etsy, these were tiny paper creations assembled for no reason other than that was what I needed to do at the time.
As I wrote each card, I was saying the messages to myself, to my family, to my community. And I thought about the funny way we often give others the exact same advice we need the most, how we teach that which we most need to learn, how we forget to give ourselves the same level of kindness and compassion we give others. And I thought about how difficult it can be to believe three little words, words such as “You are brave” or “You are enough”, and how the simple act of saying them out loud, or reading them once a day ~ and then carrying them with us everywhere we go for the rest of the day ~ can make a difference. A huge difference.
I have a stack of these cards, and I will be making more, so if anyone needs a hand painted “You are…” message card, email me at christine@swirlygirl.com with your name and snail mail address and I’ll send you one. If you email me, I will simply draw a card and mail it to you, and trust that whichever message that happens to be will be the right one for you.
September 20, 2010 Update ~ I just mailed my last card. Thank you to everyone who emailed me!
you are an inspiration! i love you.
These are beautiful and such a lovely idea!
That’s such a wonderful idea!
Wonderful and creative idea.
First off, I want to say that I am loving your site. Next, the cards are quite inspirational. I may need to order one really soon.
how really wonderful
yes – i need one! and here’s one for you: you are endlessly wonderful.
(a redux)
Christine,
These are absolutely STUNNING.
As soon as I opened this post, I just stared and stared at the pile of beautiful cards, edged with color and filled with messages my own heart needs to hear over and over again. I found myself thinking, “I need to pay her to make me a whole stack of these cards so that I can flip through them all the time and be reminded of Truth.”
Can that happen somehow? Because, seriously. I would pay.
Love you.
PS: Seriously LOVING your new site. And, it also inspired something important for my own journey. I’ll share the story with you in my e-mail response to you tonight. xoxo
What a wonderful idea! These cards are gorgeous! You are such a generous soul to offer to share them.
Loving the new site, btw. Very pretty. Very you.
[...] has a new website. It’s simply gorgeous and reflects her spirit. She made some beautiful affirmation cards this week and she’s sharing them. Stop by and let her know you like her new site, and ask for [...]
Loving these cards. You are such an angel. Sending light and kindness out into the word. I am so blessed to know you!
you are… exactly what i needed to read right now. thankyou! and your handwriting is divine, a meditation indeed.
You always know just what to say and share. Opening your site this morning and finding these little treasures is just what I needed. Thank you for just being YOU!
over and over again, i am finding these simple truths to be the ones that i am needing to learn, deep down and for real.
i love thinking of you doing this for yourself.
Love this post, and the cards, and the sentiments behind and above and everywhere… me please, i need one please… xoxo
We often forget about ourselves, that we need to hear/read positive affirmations daily. Such a great idea!
i love when a project just flows out of me, and becomes exactly what i needed.
these are beautiful.
What a wonderful site Christine. Congratulations on your move!
And those cards, such a lovely idea. I read through the ones on your photo and sighed. It’s true, sometimes we’re so much better at giving to others what we ourselves crave. Thank you for reminding me that I’m worth the same consideration.
Stephanie
love the new site!
love it, love it,
L O V E it!
What a beautiful post. This is what struck me the most: “These weren’t for a job, a project, or Etsy, these were tiny paper creations assembled for no reason other than that was what I needed to do at the time.” I fall into that rut far too often. I’ll have a show looming around the corner that I need to get prepared for, or I’ll have a workshop that I committed to that I need to prepare something for…always caught up in so many things that I feel like I “have to do”. When in reality, all I really want to do is just play, just like you’ve done here. Your new site is beautiful, and I hope to be by often.
yes! sometimes you need to just do something for you and i love the messages. reading yours filled me with joy. love.
congrats on the move. just lovin your new site. this was such beautiful post. i need one too!! smiles. m-
[...] I opened my mailbox today to find this, from Christine Mason Miller: [...]
Dear Christine,
I received your card in today’s mail and you would not believe, it came at a time when I was stressed out totally. I opened it and stared at it for a moment, not fully realizing that I had requested you send me one of your cards, (even though I read the return address, I did not recognize it). I have to tell you what a difference it made. I continued to say your message of “You are astounding” over and over to myself so that it distracted me somewhat from my irritating circumstance. A big thank you to you and a big hug. This reinforces my belief that the Universe works in strange ways. Blessings to you. Be well. Always, Barbara
it is a testament to the power of art for giver and receiver
you are my creative angel
You are so very kind to your readers!
I am finally adding your new site to my blogroll. Happy to see you again!
Did I miss any updates on new workshop times with you and SWH? I must get to you both!
p.s. your new site looks wonderful!
[...] the above handwritten message from my friend Christine Mason Miller last week after she posted here about knowing exactly where she belonged. Christine had written a series of “You [...]
I definitely love your blog. Excellent work!
good post, added you to my RSS reader.