As I sit here on this turbulent plane heading to the other side of the country—the side that claims to always be sunny, where the people are friendlier, the food is more organic, and the traffic is even worse than in NYC—I realize I’m heading to the illustrious Los Angeles. While trying not to get sick and vomit into the adorable little bag they graciously tuck away in the back pocket of the seat in front of me, I realize something important: I’m one lucky SOB! Truly, I am.
Do I feel lucky every day? Not always, but I do recognize how fortunate I am. It’s a hard thing to accept. We often think that in order to feel lucky, blessed, or whatever term represents success, we need to have things—big houses, recognition as the top in our field, or expensive items to flaunt that we’ve made it. There’s nothing wrong with wanting those things, but let me share why I feel lucky.
I may not be living a life of luxury or massive notoriety in my career, but I feel like I do. I’m grateful every day that I wake up and the challenges I face are my own choices. The stress I put on myself comes from my desire to do more and create more. Every decision I make is aimed at building the future I envision for myself. You see, feeling lucky isn’t just about getting what you want; it’s a way of thinking, a mindset. It’s about how you view the world before you and all it has to offer.
I decided to take a chance on myself without worrying about the outcome. I didn’t dwell on what I was giving up. All I knew was that if I didn’t make a move, the best part of me would slip away, and I’d end up giving my time, creativity, and vision to someone else. I didn’t want to be confined to a 40-hour workweek, where my value is determined by meeting someone else’s expectations. That’s too limiting, too easy, and not how I wanted to live the second half of my life.
It’s not easy becoming someone else, creating your own identity or “brand,” as the trendy term of the decade puts it. I still don’t know exactly what this is supposed to look like, but at least I get to mold it my way. I make my own mistakes and only have to be accountable to myself. I choose to stand on my own and create something amazing for those who are willing to listen and work with me. I took my love of helping people, the knowledge I’ve gained over the years, a little faith, and built a road to a new life.
My title is Founder/Bridal Stylist of Francesca DiSpirito Styling: Stylist to the Bride. It’s a work in progress for sure, but for now, that’s who I am. I style brides and their families—essentially anyone who wants someone to guide them on what to wear to a formal function. Simply put, that’s what I do. However, who I am in this process goes beyond that. I’ve taken this leap to offer my knowledge, support, and expertise to as many people as possible, of course, for a fee. Someone’s gotta pay for my shoe addiction. In all seriousness, I help you, guide you, and offer you a friendship that makes you realize you needed someone like me in your life.
I’m learning every day how to be better at my job, but my authentic self will always shine through and never take a backseat. So, you see, I am lucky, and now you understand why. It’s a journey I chose to embark on, paving my road one brick at a time with my own self-made bricks. I’m here to share with you not only tips and advice on the whole wedding gown experience—because as the bride, you’re always right—but also some stories about how “real” things can get and how not-so-easy life can be. Perhaps through my experiences, you’ll take something with you and realize you’ve got this! We all do!
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