We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julia Whitley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Julia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Giving Life Garden, now also a living breathing space called Alive is our most profound and meaningful project. One of my deepest connections to this gorgeous planet in through nature and the gratitude that I have everything that breathes life. My motto was “be kind to everything that breathes life.” It felt rather hippish in the circles I was in, so I kept that in my heart and shared it with just a handful of people. Some have not only been a part of our project but have contributed to it. I grew up in an area of Southern California/South Bay that is defined a bit differently that what I experienced as a child. It is a peninsula that is a little country town with horses, bridle trails, ranches, barns and trees of so many colors. I walked to school, I walked to friends’ homes and often just walked to take in the air, the beauty, the wonder and aesthetic that is nature. Fast forward to the beginning of event and wedding planning and watching the 600 plus pounds of waste that included plants and flowers. It was painful to watch not just the waste, but the disregard for life. Many may forget that trees, plants, and flowers are living, but as Earth child, I do not just see but feel. My Mom really was the seed that began this connection with her gorgeous garden that was taken care of by a botanist. Upon her passing she asked for tons of flowers that represented the beauty she saw in the world. I wanted to carry on her legacy somehow and thought this was a way to connect my love of living things to her wish. As part of the service, event and wedding world I also wanted my impact to be something that was inspiring, connective and altruistic.
Julia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Humbly, I have been in the Wedding and event industry for over 22 years. Being of service is a spiritual gift and one I do not take lightly. I have always loved the art of entertaining which started when I was young, and my mom would have me set the table with my grandmother’s china. My favorite task was the bowls of peanuts and mints of which I was take handfuls. I grew up in a time when fine china was a reveled department inside of Macy’s and displayed prominently inside someone’s home. It was a discussion piece amongst the mentors in my life that would be an extension of my career tapestry. It is called Vintage now, and I am all about it. I grew up surrounded by Producers, Executive Producers, Actors and high-profile individuals with impeccable taste and an art for an incredible dinner party. I suppose if I could pick up any trade based on my surroundings, event planning was the one that made the biggest impact. Being of service to any and all is one of the greatest characteristics of my persona and my purpose, as is creating meaningful spaces and connections. I build profound relationships with my vendors and clients and love when an organic connection occurs. Conversations as of recent with industry vendors reminded me just how much I crave those connections and how I feel I have defined my unique service. I am described as very professional, but also incredibly caring and down to earth. I am told that I am hard working and have amazing energy that allows clients to be fully present. I pay close attention to the need beyond the details which is often something much deeper than they have expressed. It has been an honor to be present for so many over 2 decades, but change is inevitable. Being consciously aware of the impact we have on the Earth and one another has also been paramount in my desire to pivot a bit from Weddings. We have expanded into the realm of retreat experiences and well-being. I am most proud of the work we have been co-creating the past 6 years with facilitators, transformation specialists and the healing community to elevate our human experience.
As time as gone on and society has evolved, the desire for planning has undergone an evolution as well. I adore our long -time clients of 15 years and will be there to support them as much as needed, however, our gifts have taken a bit of a turn to assist in elevating others to be the best version of themselves. This, along with our non-profit has fulfilled our purpose is in the most unexpected ways.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I have had to unlearn that I can exist without apology and that my dreams are worthy of being un-shelved. I have had to also learn to not be small in order to make others feel good about who they wish to be. Being an introvert and more of a listener/ doer doesn’t draw much attention to who I am and what I am capable of. I was teased excessively in school and at home when I was young, for being to0 feeling, too caring, too tall, too skinny and not as smart as….(dot, dot, dot -insert name here) I took that lesson to heart, so much so, I have carried it, for 5 decades, like luggage with a de-funked wheel.
It has taken being told too many times in the event/service realm that I am less that or that “they didn’t think much of me”, as well as receiving messaging in the healing community, to not only unlearn this lesson, but to move forward seeing myself differently.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The beauty of being a creative is that you see things within a realm of possibility. I have so many goals, but the one that feels that most impactful within my soul, is that I take as many with me on this journey to elevate, support and advocate. Sometimes I feel like I sound like a typical 1960’s “Peace, Love and Freedom” advocate, but it has always been a part of my DNA to support others. There are so many incredible creatives that should all have their moment to shine. We all have so much to share and say within the story of our life. So many lessons that we each can learn from. Creatives often find a way to share and express those lessons through their medium. I am here to illuminate that medium and voice in whatever platform I can. I wish to have a big impact by my small actions or few words and who encourages others to propel forward in their goals and mission.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: juliadwhitley
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julia.d.whitley/
- Other: Tik Tock @julia.d.whitley
Image Credits
Kelly McDaniel Photography
Rakhi Raikar