Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julia Walthall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julia Walthall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.Julia, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Hello and thank you for inviting me for this interview. I’ve enjoyed reading the other stories on your Bold Journey site and am honored to be included. When it comes to resilience, for me the foundation is physical and mental health. If your body and mind are run down, resilience can feel impossible. My resilience is a buffer between me and a challenge that either expands or erodes depending on how I take care of myself. My daily practices include walking, journaling, connecting with nature, and meditating. That’s in addition to prioritizing sleep and nutrition. I know from experience that if I neglect those parts of my health when something goes wrong in my day, I’m more likely to react poorly. Taking care of mental and physical health is a daily, difficult, boring practice, but I believe it gives me the best chance to succeed.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Sure, I’m a Florida-born-and-raised daughter of Christine and Will Walthall, who moved here to Palm Coast in the 1970s to start their life together. Family is very important to me and I launched Driftwood and Decor in 2021 after I’d moved home to take care of my aging father. I’d worked full time, then part time, and as his Parkinson’s disease progressed, finally started my own business because it offered the most flexibility to focus on his care. My mother was artistic and I inherited not only that from her, but also a massive shell and driftwood collection, which I grew and turned into beautiful, handmade, coastal home decor that connects people to this stunningly unique part of the world. My artwork falls primarily into five different categories – mosaics made of coquina shells, sea glass, and recycled glass, driftwood wall art, and a collection I call “from the seas and shores of FLAGLER.” Every piece I make honors both of my parents as well as the nature in Florida, specifically the coastal parts of Flagler County. Even the recycled glass achieves this goal because it is the result of a local program that supports environmental resource conservation. I grew up here and truly couldn’t love it more – I want other people to see what I see and feel connected to it the way that I do and to welcome meaningful art into their home.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Oh, absolutely. It feels like you can’t open an app or website without someone offering you advice because you’re clearly doing everything wrong! It’s very overwhelming. Most things I feel wise about are lessons that I learned the hard way. That doesn’t always translate to giving advice, but for me, the three I focus on are having a clear purpose, prioritizing my health, and having a strong support system. My purpose became clear when I saw how much Parkinson’s was affecting my Dad’s quality of life. The brain controls everything and neurological conditions like Parkinson’s and dementia impact every part of the body. So, to help maintain his dignity and protect him as much as possible from suffering, while still managing to find joy together and live a good life, that was my purpose and I built a business around that. I’ve already mentioned details already about mental and physical health, but I’ll also say, it’s never too late to take care of yourself. Sometimes health problems are unavoidable or incurable, but what is under my control, I try to influence positively. Lastly, having a strong support system. I’m fortunate to have surrounded myself with very supportive people. I also think that with age comes a degree of self-awareness that lessens the weight that other people’s opinions have. Be intentional about who you keep close and when listening to others opinions, be sure to value your own the most when it comes to your life.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
That’s hard to narrow down, I had incredible parents. If I have to choose, the most impactful thing was their support and encouragement in my formative years and really, throughout my life. It’s a well-documented developmental reality for children and adults, that attentive caregivers who foster an environment of learning and acceptance typically results in confidence and self-esteem – two things that are foundational for problem solving, risk taking, and growth. That said, I think to some extent confidence is a habit that can be practiced. I can either use my inner voice to over-criticize and put myself down or I can hype myself up and focus on what I’ve done right. If there’s room for improvement, I can be honest and constructive. The more I follow through with what I say I’m going to do, the more accountable and honest I am with myself, and that maintains the sense of trust that I’m a capable person. Confidence is trusting myself. Approaching life with confidence changes everything.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.driftwoodanddecor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/driftwoodanddecor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/driftwoodanddecor
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/driftwoodanddecor/
- Other: For 2024 – the last Saturday of every month, Driftwood and Decor will be at Peps Art Walk, next to JTs Seafood on 5224 N. Oceanshore Blvd, Palm Coast, FL from 12pm – 5pm.
Email: [email protected]
