“Do one thing everyday that scares you.” - Eleanor Roosevelt.
Inspiration, Fear & Success are three amazing aspects that we will constantly interact with throughout the course of our lives. Inspiration to me, is the driving factor that pushes us to the edge of the cliff. I’ll use cliff jumping as an analogy for this particular blog post, hoping others can relate. I had cliff jumped in the past, during my time all while living up north, in the beautiful mountains of the Adirondacks (and I honestly hated it, haha). The anticipation of the initial jump is truly the worst part (I ended up standing for 30 minutes before building up enough courage), but free falling, free falling through the air, then into the rush of ice cold water making contact with your whole body, is the most amazing part of it all. While your swimming at the bottom, you look back up and realize it wasn’t as bad as you thought. The adrenaline rush, the journey down, it was all amazing. You look back and you’re truly happy that you jumped. In life, many will find themselves at the very edge but will never find the courage to “take the plunge” and risk it all. Inspiration without a doubt will push us close to edges of the cliffs in our lives. It’s then and there, when we must choose what to do with the fear that we feel in those moments. Do we let fear, fear of the unknown, get the best of us and all our hopes and dreams? Or do we acknowledge it face to face and push right through it? Do we look over the edge and then shake our heads and walk away? Or do we take that deep breath and go all in?
For the 29 year old artist, Julius Arriola of San Francisco, otherwise known as @JuliusCaesar, taking that leap of faith translated into the moment when he had packed all his valuables into one car and made the move down to Los Angeles, with perhaps nothing but inspiration, fear & success running through his mind. Written throughout the past several years, Julius and his stories of hard work, determination & moments of success have been relevant throughout the hair & barbering community. As a person, before ever being a hairstylist/photographer, the stories of others is what truly captivates me more than anything else. When I had saw the opportunity to be a part of 6 hour, private workshop with Julius himself, in my very own backyard, New York City, I had to be a part of this opportunity. Of course, I was looking forward to the technical aspects of this workshop, but more than anything else, I was hoping to see and hear more of the Bay Area native’s story of how he became to be. That’s exactly what was able to happen. With what took place at the introduction of the day, Julius was kind enough to be open and transparent in regards to his story, as well as his views of the industry, both past and present. Through an open forum like such, I was blessed to find inspiration, the one thing that I am always seeking.
The day took place amongst the busy hustle and bustle of Midtown Manhattan on a sunny, yet cold Monday morning. We were fortunate enough to have this class take place in the beautiful location of Takara Belmonts NYC showroom. Takara Belmont, founded in Japan in 1921 by Hidetaka Yoshikawa, their purpose is “Helping people fulfill their wish to stay beautiful and healthy by providing superior products and services..”. Between amazing products & the accommodating staff, we were all able to have an amazing experience that day. The day consisted of an open talk/Q&A, technical demo & training, guest appearances from leading names in the industry, hands on training with a live model, model photo session as well as ending the night with Takara Belmont’s: The Mixer NYC. A day truly filled with many talented and passionate artists, people striving to learn and looking for the next step, this day will always be special to me.
If you had to told the younger me, around the time when I first picked up a pair of clippers, or around the time I started following and looking up to such talented artists in the industry, if you had told me I would a part of something like today, standing in the same room as Julius and 11 other skill full people, I surely wouldn’t have believed it and I wouldn’t have felt confident enough to do so. I look back to see how far I’ve come since that very first haircut I did, up until now and I am truly grateful for the beautiful struggle that is life as we know it. I am truly grateful to everyone who has supported me and to those who has given me a chance and opportunity to simply be who I truly am. To tie this all back together: seek inspiration, walk to the edge of life’s cliffs, stare fear straight into it's eyes and jump, jump into the cold, yet beautiful waters of life's successes. So if you're reading this today, and you’re like me, chasing a dream, remember that fear is normal, its being scared of the unknown. But if you can take one thing away from all this, let it be this: Do not hesitate in anything. Do not be scared. Conquer the unknown and lastly, chase the dream, and just jump.
After all is said and done, What’s stopping you?
Special Thanks:
Fellow Classmates:
Thanks for being such a dope bunch! It’s encouraging to be surrounded by like minded people and I hope our paths cross again in the future. Can’t wait to hopefully get to know you all some more. If there’s any way I can support you guys in your journey, my line's always open, let's link up and create amazing things for the rest of the world to see.
Julius:
If you're reading this, thank you bro! For all the honesty and knowledge you shared with us in only what was just a short moment in time. It’s unbelievable to me that I got to be a part of something like this. I truly am inspired to conquer my ideas and dreams, and just know you’ll always have a part in that. I support you and I’m rooting for you in all that you do. Keep spreading the positivity and the genuine love, not only does this industry need it, but the world as well.
Andrew:
My model since day one! My very first haircut ever. Just a bunch of high school kids who didn't know where life would take them. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me when it comes to hair as well as our friendship. Thank you for supporting me since literally my first haircut ever. I’ll always remember your honest words when I told you “Bro, I don't know how to really cut hair, You sure you're okay with letting me do this?”, and you replied “I trust you. I know if this is something you really want to do, you’ll become good at it and it'll take you far in life.” At the time I kind of laughed when you said that, but as the years passed those words became more and more meaningful to me. I look at all the opportunities and purpose that hair has given me in my life and I am truly grateful for it all. Thank you for being not only a guinea pig, or my hair model throughout hair school and workshops like this, but for being a true friend through it all. Life will take us anywhere and everywhere else in the world, but home will always be neighbors on the corner of Harold Street in Staten Island, New York. From ‘93 til.
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