Devoted Body 1- Quest begins!

Art created especially for this blog by a one-of-a-kind artist!
Judith Parsons Art -San Francisco 2017

Something clicked when I decided to devote myself to my body. I am trying to understand it, enjoy it, not think about it too much. But, who am I kidding? It amazes me that the process of wanting to be more, wanting to finally change and become more disciplined “clicked”.

After finishing my graduate degree in fine art, you’d think I might rush into Adobe or head over to my school to ask for a job. Sure, I do something very precise with art, I know how to create 3 dimensional puzzle piece sculptures as well as the traditional sorts of sculpture art with leather, clay, and metal. However, making art wasn’t my main concern.

My main concern is growing into a healthy fit 100 year old woman. 

Yes, I want to be the woman that walks into the room, (like Jane Fonda who is 80) and have people wonder, "um, she can't be 100 years old!!!"

I want to be strong for my future.

So this is how I started this quest, I have only been on it for 3 weeks. I am not drinking alcoholic  beverages, too much sugar and I am tired of the foggy non present state of it. 

I am trying to cook for myself. Trying to stay away from pasta and noodles, but truth be told, the dried noodles that take only 3 minutes to boil really are the best for a quick dinner when my body is starving for something fast.

I have been swimming at least 20 minutes every other day. Most days I swim 30 minutes. Whilst I swim I am very aware of the legs kicking and toes pointing. I am very aware of stretching my arm extra long as to stretch my muscles along my ribs down the side of my body.

(A swim magic tip: POINTING your toes really helps your whole leg kick more efficiently!! And your calf muscles look really good too!)

Join me at the Chinatown YMCA pool!! Ask for Judith to give you private lessons! We can assess and evaluate your needs as an adult. DO you want to be able to swim a mile in an hour? 

Swimming is the one sport where you use legs and arms all at the same time. Swimming isn’t for everyone — It is exhausting at first. Swimming WORKS your body!

The art will be made because I can’t help but create and MAKE. However, I know the lazy side of me. I know if I don’t do what makes me healthy as a job- then I will become a big lazy slug that has no chance at reaching 100 years old.

I started the art by creating a pattern in illustrator-using the words:”Devote to my body.” I connected the t of the word devote to the D of the word body, creating a cross. As this is my divine mission now. I placed the pattern inside s woman shape I created. She is sturdy, like me. And she represents a strong body. 

We are all more connected than we know. Energy is a REAL thing. I wish for you the strength to move today. I send healing love and light to you so you might stretch your muscles and stand tall and say: “I am strong.”

Please grow older with me. I do believe we WILL meet. I do believe in prayers and magic and YOU!

Going back

Graphic created by Judith Parsons Art 2017

I glanced in the mirror at my body. The highest part of me is holding the corners of my shoulders up, sort of like a pair of red long johns with a butt flap. She is trying to elongate my shape and pull my shoulders back. Like- here you go, just jump into this shell of yourself and you are good to go.

I love that my imagination is so confident. As I sat down to ramble on about my body quest, this image of the fabric of me, hung up like a long john, waiting upon my entry was NOT apart of the dialogue. However, now that I think about it.

It is everything.

My highest self is waiting for me to jump in, to show up in my body! (grinning at the image) Last night I faced my fears, I had to swim a ton of laps, dive into the deep end retrieve a heavy brick, tread with heavy brick and do other deep end pool exercises.

I was nervous. As I was swimming, I kept telling myself, “Girl, THIS is what you are. THIS is who you are. YOU have this.” As I swam, I felt the rhythm of myself take over, the lil mermaid was finally showing up to be the REAL mermaid.

I, she and me came full circle last night. We decided to become stronger and healthier. It was time for the body part of my trinity to be filled up. Working a job that keeps me moving and swimming is the only way I will be true to my body. 

I have a dark side, the lazy side, that loves her bed. And I am finally aware enough to know my way around that fact. Work at a place that makes me live life full on. I am certifying again as a lifeguard. I might be the oldest lifeguard out there! 

Last night, I padded myself upon the back. The mind and spirit of me embraced the body of me. Finally, the 3 parts becoming one. Life is great, don’t let your fears keep you in your bed. Go back, find the happiest you and do it all again. 

The diamonds fit all into place.

Cool art created using Adobe Illustrator by
Judith Parsons Art -San Francisco 2017

The puzzle of me was finally floating to the surface of me. It is strange how I sit upon the dock of my own bay, my legs muscled and young dangling off the wooden dock. My toes touching the top of the blue crystal clear water, the splashes off my toes creating dancing diamonds for a few seconds as they arch out and then dive back into the water.

I am gathering energy. Gathering is growing. Growing is changing and becoming. Becoming? Hmmmmm, now that is the end all and be all question.

What is one becoming?

All the glorious puzzle pieces of Judith Parsons are coming together. Finally I am concentrating on perfecting me. The body that carries all these creative thoughts, designs, ideas, wants and desires is finally turning into a total composition.

The puzzle pieces all floating in a nice orchestrated flowing toward the center piece. 

When I created the art you see, I wasn't cognizant of it becoming anything. It is complicated. One segment is created with 7 elements that are rotated 12 times. You do the math. It never was my strong suit. 

Chuckling…

The girl sitting upon the dock next to the water is me, a younger me, a confident me, a me that I am becoming. Hm. How can one become younger? The stronger and younger me is reinvesting time toward my existing body.

I am swimming at the fountain of youth pool, (the Chinatown YMCA) and getting back 100 times the energy I give to the little baby fish. The children are growing stronger right in front of my eyes. Yes, some times they cry. (We all cry sometimes. It comes with the territory called living.)

They are skipping and happy to see me. Honestly, I am thrilled and happy to see them too.

The children are all better at swimming than they know. I am constantly reminding them- they are better than they know. 

When they have that “ah ha” moment of awareness, it is super-deeeeee-duper! You can bet- my arms are raised in triumph and I am hollering like a crazy woman! Wooohooooooo!! You did it!

Teaching these little ones is what truly gives me back to myself.

I am swinging my legs, happy. I have a community of families that trust me to teach their child to swim. In that teaching, I am receiving 50 grins every Saturday! Those diamonds splashing and arching off my toes…that is my life now.

The art I create because I can not help but create in Adobe Illustrator and photoshop! I love love love my life. Sure winning the lottery would really be nice, so I can pay off that college loan. However, all-in-all life is pretty darn cool!

Keep swimming, keep paddling, keep being the coolest sunshine diamond in the world!