Walk Your Talk: Getting Ready For Life And The Artist’s Way With Sober Curator Kate Vitela

What the hell was I getting ready for?

I look back at the foggy image of myself in my 20s “getting ready for a night out”. I imagine the song lyrics were “It’s Britney Bitch” roaring in the background while up next on the playlist was Rihanna or Fergie or even a little trance with Tiesto.  Don’t judge. This was the early 2000s and spray tans and sparkly jeans were a thing. There was always a sprinkle of glitter, a dash of desperation, a layer of bronzer, and the act of soaking my entire outfit in the saccharine smell of “Princess by Vera Wang” to cover up the stench of cheap wine and insecurity.  

When I got sober, I longed for the time I could get ready for a big night and mimic that excitement, creativity, and overall inspirational flow.  After some reflection (okay also known as step work), I realized what I really missed was the creative buzz of putting together pieces. This was often accompanied by booming music, a few girlfriends, and the thrill of the potential photos capturing the night. So why the hell couldn’t I do all those things sober?

Why did I equate a sober life with a mundane wardrobe and never an excuse to dress up?  What became increasingly clear as my brain cleared, was that I missed getting high on the creativity, not the booze. Furthermore, I didn’t need an excuse to get creative and dress up, I just needed an outlet and a new purpose.

Fast Forward to Sober Adulting

Fast forward to sober adulting and a particularly stressful time at work. I turned to the practice of writing my morning pages prompted by the work of Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way. The premise of the morning pages is to meditate on paper and get your creative thoughts flowing.

Introducing My “Cloffice”

I started writing my morning pages in my cloffice (closet/office) before work. The result? I found myself staring up at my clothing rack and planning outfits. As a healthcare professional, I wasn’t particularly fond of the idea of “getting creative at work” because you just don’t deviate from the algorithms of medicine unless you wanted to see a person grow a third eyeball or at the very least endure some botched wound care.

I was puzzled at the idea of how I could manifest creativity while going about my nine to forever big-girl job and still save the world while looking fabulous.  And, then it hit me. I was always getting ready for something. I was getting ready to face my life and my day. That was HUGE! There was my creative practice, simply reimagined. I could reproduce the creative high while getting ready for everyday life. Here is the kicker folks…. it didn’t matter what the occasion, what mattered was the process and the way my look & style made me feel! This was a mic drop moment for me.

Getting Ready for Life

So there began my new mantra of “getting ready for life”.  Gigantic coffee mug in hand, I spend my mornings contemplating and kicking open the closet door of creativity. What is today’s vibe? Sporty? Edgy? J Crew or All Saints? Was I going to be wearing Doc Martins or Penny Loafers? Now don’t get me wrong, schedule and logistics and weather play a role in the process. Lots of walking? Vintage sneakers. Rain? A chunky hood. Masking protocols…ditch the huge peacock feather earrings and opt for studs. (Because let’s face it …masks rip your earrings off, OUCH!) Needless to say, I find a tremendous amount of joy in getting ready again. Due to my new-fashioned sobriety, I am able to match it with practicality that keeps me from getting fired for violating the dress code.

I Love Love Love Fashion

I love mixing and matching pieces and curating a look. I love digging through my jewelry box and dusting off something random. Being both subtle and bold, frivolous and practical, outrageous and sensible is my jam. I love wearing a $3 shirt with high-end denim and boots from a garage sale. Mostly, I just love the creative process. I love the freedom and versatility. I am so grateful I found my style mojo sans booze. Turns out, there is nothing fabulous or fashionable about being drunk. The whole look is so cliché because drunk never looks good. (🙄)

With my new approach to getting ready for life, I find myself loving both the process and the person as I strut out the door with dignity in one hand and a fabulous bag in the other. Even if my only audience consists of my under-whelmed husband and my cat. I hope you will join me on this journey. Take a peek in my closet. A riff on my treasures.  We can get ready for life and face the world together. Every fashionista needs a sidekick… and my cat gives horrible fashion advice. Are you ready to “Walk Your Talk”? Then I hope you’ll join me in getting ready for life.

Grace & Glam,

 Kate

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Resources are available

Resources Are Available

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.

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