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! 

Gliding self transcendence

I was going to go on and on...then thought: "Geeeeeezzzz Jude, your friends are intelligent enough to get Maslow's theory."

I love you guys. I am climbing the ladder of self-transcendence.
When all I have to do, is unfurl my wings...and glide.

Winds of change

Original art by Judith Parsons Art 2017
Playing in Adobe Photoshop.

This weekend was about “winds of change” and starting over. I met with a lovely group of healers we stood in the reflective candlelight of love and light and we discussed healing our community. Healing with lovely energy. 

Now, with the autumn equinox of equal day and night balance— it is time to revaluate our existence. Winter is a good time to go within, it is a lovely time to hibernate and ask your highest self: “What do I need to change to become healthier and stronger.”

Let that question be the blanket upon which you sleep. Let the healing words snuggle and cuddle against you, as you know this is the first step in becoming what you have always desired to become.

Personally, it takes time for me to gather in energy for change. I welcome the idea of hibernating. Time is a lovely sweet bear that nuzzles against me. I pet Time, and wrap around its furry back, ready to rest in the knowing that in a few months, I will be transforming.

We all go through the physical changes, we lose weight, we gain it back. We work out for a few months, then we stop working out. Very few people are disciplined enough to continue a regimented routine. I applaud you fabulous friends who are disciplined. You inspire me to become more.

If you will use your imagination. Please see a large oak tree, it branches immense, the moon is shining upon the tree. There is an owl in the branches, representing north, There is a sleeping bear underneath the tree, representing south. To the right of the tree is a sleeping doe, representing east. Then on the left side of the tree a sleeping wolf, representing west.

The tree represents the tree of life. Branches reaching toward heaven, above the cloud layer and its roots reaching far into the darkness of the soil, pass the darkness into the river of life that is underground. The energy source of all of us. We are the river and the tree as we each have both light and dark parts of ourselves.

The owl is the intuitive wise highest self of yourself. The bear is trusting in the great unknown, seeking hibernating where the answers come with time. The doe is compassion, her eyes melting the monster temptations who try and prevent us from reaching the summit of our soul. The wolf is the teacher. We are all of these things symbolically. 

With this new season, embrace yourself. Prepare for winter, it is going to be a stormy season. Cut the wood, gather it in… breathe in deeply. Embrace the bear.

The winds bring change. Prepare.

Fountain of youth

Photograph and logo from YMCA website. Added text with photoshop.

This morning I went to my first aqua-fitness class. I felt like I was a sixteen year old again! To be able to play, jump, dance and exercise for an hour in the water is the BEST gift you can give yourself.

I was a little girl again. Laughing and playing. Being in the YMCA pool with a bunch of new friends, is what life is about. The song by the Pointer Sisters, “We are family” was a fabulous moment. I felt very much loved in that pool.

The majority of the people were over 60 years young. Yep. The Chinatown YMCA is where it is at. If you want to find the fountain of youth, come hang out at our pool.

On Thursday I am going back to the pool to do the Water Zumba. I have no idea what it will be like. However, I do know that moving and playing and being a wild little girl again is a glorious feeling.

People are smiling at the Chinatown YMCA!! We are a fabulous family! And no, I am not being paid to sing the praises of our magical piece of heaven upon earth. 

I am committing to myself, my body. I want to become stronger and better.

My entire 57 years upon this planet I put my body on the back burner. Sure I did weight watchers 20 times, and sure I lost the weight. And then gained it back. Now though, I am giving myself permission to have fun.

Give yourself the best gift ever, come join the YMCA. Tell them Judith sent you— you will get a discount and a HUGE hug from me!

Wooohooooooo!! Life is amazing at the Chinatown YMCA!

2 Fish

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish…

My children grew up on Dr. Suess. I can still see the illustrations. Nothing complicated. Pretty simple little drawings.

I created these fish in 30 minutes, playing in Adobe Illustrator. Just playing an thinking about my little fishes that I am teaching to swim.

I have a new group of adults too. Two of the young men have repeated the adult class a couple of times. It was so nice to see them back!  They don’t need to come back,I think they like playing in the water.

The water is the fountain of youth for me. The water heals me, and keeps me young. When my ears are underwater, I can quiet the static noises of life. The water is divine tranquility for me.

If you have a tub, fill it up and sink your ears underwater. Listen to your heart beat in your ears. 

Breathe and listen.

If you have a pool you can visit- then float. Just rest upon the water and float. 

It is an amazing place to be. Floating - the water suspending you. Like a person in space. Just free to be.

Thats all I have for you today. Learning the new energy. Happy!