Tim McMullen shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Tim, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Iv’e recently returned to painting in oil, a medium that I love and am sometimes intimidated by. I’m also slowly turning my art studio into an immersive place of wonder for kids and adults to get lost in.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Tim McMullen and I’m the founder of Little Dot Arts LLC. We provide 1:1 in home art lessons for kids and teens on the autism spectrum. As a father of two young children both diagnosed with autism, it was hard to find enrichment programs that my kids could participate in and feel supported with their unique emotional and sensory needs. Little Dot was created to meet this need and celebrate young autistic artists and meet them where they’re at.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My partner has always seen me very clearly and has been a wonderful reflecting back the best in me. It’s a unique relationship because they see all of me, the beutiful parts and the not so great qualities as well. And yet she has persistently shown me the wonderful parts of myself and has encourage me to investigate those qualities more closely.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Being singled out and bullied for being different as a child was a very difficult experience and one I have had to work to overcome my entire life. The message this tells a child is that you shouldn’t be who you are, which is very damaging. I have spent my life healing those wounds and learning to love who I am, and not who I thought the world wanted me to be. I have also made it my goal to celebrate and support those who feel marginalized or isolated.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I sure hope so, for a long time I tried to appear more neurotypical, or what is referred to as high masking. Now I try to allow myself to be who I really am across all environments. I’m a compassionate and sometimes awkward/funny guy who can socialize really well for about one hour. I struggle to make small talk and enjoy deep dive conversations into art, culture and the meaning of life.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If immortality were real, what would you build?
I have studied a lot of different spiritual beliefs and the thru line that I find re-occurring is this. The meaning of life is to love. Love yourself and love others. The best way to express that love is by making the world a better place, which is typically done through service. I would build humanitarian centers that help people feel connected and whole again. This could be through direct practical means such as food, shelter and medicine. Or through other means, such as communal connection and artistic expression.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.little-dot.co/
Image Credits
Tim McMullen/ Little Dot
