We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Miranda Grey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Miranda, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
In the winter of 1992, a 6 month old baby and her mother were met by a man who took her in as his own. Raised her with love, kindness, and knowledge of the world. Gave her siblings that feel like home. That man is my father today and my hero. Living a life of not being able to afford an adoption, living a life of having a different name not by choice than my family, brought me to be who I am now. Miranda Grey. As soon as I became an adult I socially took on my father’s name as tribute to the loving and warm life he so selflessly gave me. To this day he takes care of our family as if it is what he lives for. Seeing the struggles our family went through and how resilient he was to bring us to a life of better, made me appreciate every tiny item or moment we were given of happiness. It made me appreciate the family we have and choose. It also made me appreciate the moments that weren’t so great, to use them to grow and learn from. Mistakes teach you to not be ashamed of failure and to not be ashamed of yourself and your growth. My father taught me to be humble and to never be ashamed of becoming the best of myself for myself and those I truly love.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Hi there! Talking about yourself can be pretty difficult. Especially when you think you’re just ordinary .. How ever I’m learning to become extraordinary you must start from ordinary. I’m on way there. I want my kindness to shine, my passion for people to be felt. I have always had a soft spot for helping others and bring out the best in them. Be there to show them they are the best of themselves even when the times are so tough. I want to use my ability to be patient and understanding for something bigger than myself. It began when I was invited to help a friend of mine video some wedding footage, he really needed a ride .. but I was not afraid to pick up a camera and help any other way I could. My passion for seeing people in an element where they truly are their very best self and vulnerable hit my heart and it grew three sizes bigger! My passion of being there for moments where my patience and really really caring for people and their loved ones began that exact day. 3 months later I started my own business with that same person in 2014. I am here today, still learning, growing, wanting a better future for all. My business helps bring people together, help create a stage for love to grow, family to cry, and moments to be cherished. Celebrating is the ultimate way for humans to connected with their past, present, and future self. I went on a tangent haha my ultimate goal is to take my business in the future and create land that provides a space for intimate gathers, weather that’s for love, business retreats, family gatherings, or a place for others to learn. I want multiple elements to be offered to be a safe space for growing and celebrating.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Grace. This is a catch all work for me. It’s my word of the year practically every year. It means to be kind, for yourself and for those around you. In times of greatness and in times of hardship. It makes you take a moment and evaluate yourself in challenging times. One of my favorite parts of being graceful is always and for ever, it often inspires others.
Inspiration. You need it. You need to find it. You need to keep it. We can often find a hard balance between being inspired and being kicked down by what we see, hear, or think. Don’t give up. Find inspiration in something, never stop reaching for it. To be an artist, a kind person, to find and keep love; we need inspiration with in ourselves to find something bigger than us. A reason to keep going and keep doing what we love.
Always learn. You don’t know everything, I don’t know everything, and no one certainly knows everything. Be a student. For ever and always do not stop learning. Keep growing your mind, your skill, and your passion. We get comfortable and think we’ve hit smooth sailing how ever the world doesn’t work that way. We need to be on our toes ready for the next big thing or change. We can always be better! At one point I thought I learned enough, and it made the smooth sailing eventually become practically falling off the boat sailing. Learn from your mistakes, your path you’ve taken and the path you want to take. Knowledge is the one things in this world we can control for ourselves and how much of it we gain.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My self. If I grow my business grows. If I improve what I offer to my clients will improve. I am the only thing standing in the way of being better and growing to be. I’ve taken the last 4 years of going through things that kept me in a place of not growing letting things get in my way of not being my better self. It has taken this long to let go of so many things that are not in my control. How I handle them and learn from them is what is in my control. Don’t let yourself be the reason you are not extraordinary. Life has beauty and meaning we have to contribute to that beauty and meaning.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mirandagreyweddings.com
- Instagram: weddingsbymirandagrey
Image Credits
Headshot ( photographer – Migdy Renela, Editor – me )
