Life Lessons: Julius Lumsden
Are you happy at the moment?
I don’t believe in the pursuit of happiness. That is a very transitory emotion. My priority is being in peace spiritually and emotionally first. That way I can make a home for happiness to remain longer in my life .
If you could go back and say anything to your 16-year-old self now – what would it be?
To believe and trust my inner wisdom more. Instead of saying to my self ‘I don’t fit in’, to say instead ‘they don’t fit in with me’. You waste so much time not being true to yourself doing the former and not being authentic. Ones power in life, not power over anyone, just your own sense of self, is so important to be true to. Many facets of life fall into their right place as a result of this truth. You attract who who you are meant to know, meant to experience and meant to share. You also accept with grace that which rejects you in life in peace.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned this year?
That I am very strong person. That I am blessed to have great parents who loved me unconditionally and provided a firm emotional foundation for me as I child. These two elements merged and I see now why am strong. I am my parents’ son, I am my self and I live in thanks for them and that. They also know I feel that, which is good.
What do you most want to achieve in the next 12 months?
I want to visit family and friends in Britain. I hope I continue to inspire my students in the next 12 months. I would like to pursue my own creative endeavors: designing, writing, art. But, I would most like to launch my own design business. I have a product, no clear plan or path yet. But, am a creative guy first and foremost, so this must happen in next 12 months. I would however always teach. I know I can inspire because I hear that from 150 students per week. It is good to give back what one has learned .
What’s your secret to happiness?
Being centered and in alignment with my inner voice, or instinct , or equilibrium. But, this becomes a semantic game, for some would say God, and I would say inner wisdom. I let go, and let the rest fall into place in trust .
What one ritual or practice keeps you grounded?
Going to the gym. I cannot meditate in the yoga sense of the word, I like physical motion to feel ‘still’. Let us be realistic. Repeating a motion with a dumbell counting to 12-15 is like a mantra, too. It empties the mind and creates mental space for my thoughts. I feel calm, energized, and balanced after a workout. The physical side effects are not bad either!
What’s your biggest regret?
I don’t believe in regrets. I do not live in the past. I take the great lessons from everything and see it was meant to my path in life to experience what I experienced. I also let go. It took me all those experiences to finally listen to my inner wisdom and fully become that person in question 2. How could I regret anything that brought me to the place am in now?
What’s the most important lesson you’ve taught your kid(s)?
I don’t have any, but I can teach as many as 200 kids per week, so to make them value their own ideas. To learn to think critically. To express those thoughts well and with conviction. To instill them with confidence to go out and live the life they want.
What bad habit would you most like to change about yourself?
I can be blunt. I am very much the ‘sky is blue so why are we debating the obvious?’ type of guy at times. And sometimes I could be sensitive to those who need to describe life in many shades because they cannot face ‘blue’, which can seem stark. But, I like clean lines in design too, so am a very consistent personality.
Aside from motherhood/fatherhood and marriage what are you most proud of in your life?
Marriage? I would have to date first. Am not the guy ‘next door’. I have made beautiful things, let them go and know they remain in other peoples lives. I designed Ballets for New York City Ballet: Thou Swell, Vespro and Guide to Strange Places. I exhibited and sold art in London, Zurich, Germany, New York, Miami, etc. I have designed evening clothes for women to feel beautiful. I sold my own collection ‘Julius Lumsden’ at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and beyond. I create and send it out into life.
When were you happiest?
There is no when, it is a state in which I am happiest. That state is when am not self-conscious and feel free. I am my most creative in that place and therefore happiest.
What ten words best describe you?
Wow that is tough , okay here goes : reflective, intense, clear, blunt, loyal, trusting, intuitive, creative, communication, consistent.
