About Judy Walker: I first became aware I could make incredible changes in my life with only small adjustments during my junior high school days. I was a terrible student during elementary school. I used to daydream about being one of the honor role students, that’s how pathetic I was. And then in eighth grade one teacher encouraged me, and from that time on I was an “A” student. During college, I didn’t have to study – taking tests was easy for me. I hadn’t changed – no genetic manipulation! Just a change in attitude changed my whole life.
I was a mathematics major in college – a major I chose because math was so easy and obvious to me that I didn’t have to study to do well (a long way from the girl who could only make Cs and Ds in arithmetic). During college, I started the process of change from being extremely introverted and isolated to being sociable. It was during these years that I became interested in nutrition, exercise and healthy living. I realized that what I ate and drank – the daily choices I made – affected the way I looked and felt six months down the road. And the changes in my appearance and energy levels increased my confidence during social interactions. The positive results of my self discipline in these areas transformed my interests into life-long pursuits.
I joined the Navy right out of college, serving two years as an Intelligence Officer with the Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet staff in Hawaii. I often had to present briefs for two-, three- and four-star admirals – a long cry from a person who had been afraid to ever open her mouth during high school. I was also asked to develop a new intelligence product, which took about 10 months of long days and nights in an office by myself to complete. I understood that I needed to persist in my work, maintaining a vision for the end product, in spite of the less than ideal work environment. And it paid off for me. At the end of that time, I produced a report that the White House heard about and requested to be placed on distribution for.
During my time in Hawaii, I became interested in Star Wars and jogging, among other things. I was talked into training for and running in one of the Honolulu marathons. It was a fabulous experience and one of the good memories of my life. I also spent every weekend walking. I walked almost all the way around the island during the two years I was stationed there. These two recreational choices put me on track for a lifelong regular exercise habit, which I still maintain today at age 53.
I was also one of the first women in the Navy to serve on board a ship – and I was recommended for the position by a two-star admiral! Being a Division Officer for 35 men (and two women) developed my leadership and people skills like nothing else has ever done. The days on the ship were long – often working 16-hour days. Sundays were days of rest in that we only had to work 8 hours. Good physical and emotional health were essential to keep up with the demands of the job.
After getting off active duty with the Navy, I started working for a defense contractor in Northern California in the East Bay area, settled in San Leandro, started attending church, and became a Christian. After three years, I got married, had children, and decided to stay home with them – a choice I don’t regret. I maintained my position in the Naval Reserves, making a career of it and eventually getting promoted to Captain (equivalent to the Air Force/Army Colonel). I also had a part time job with an advertising agency as a supervising editor. So I didn’t give up my interest in the working world, but I made it secondary to my interest in raising my two handsome, wonderful sons.
After my sons were both in high school, I returned to work full time, assisting salesmen with the administrative processes required to accomplish their sales goals. I discovered that I really enjoyed the business and sales world, and that I really enjoyed helping people accomplish their goals. But I was still casting about for a purpose that I could be passionate about. And I came back to my lifelong interest in health, nutrition and fitness. Many people my age are already suffering from degenerative conditions. They can’t even walk ½ mile without the possibility of injury, or at the very least being sore for a couple of days afterward. I’m looking forward to being able to take my grandkids to Disneyland 10-15 years from now, keeping up with them and riding all the rides. I want to be able to hike up to Machu Picchu with my husband in a few years. I want to attend the 2012 Olympics in London with my sister and go to all the beach volleyball events. I don’t want bad knees, digestive issues, and other unpleasant consequences of aging to prevent me from enjoying the next 50 years of my life. And I hope to give others a vision for the kind of life that doesn’t include eventually forgetting everything and everyone, or becoming dependent on others to perform simple tasks for you.
My purposes in life are:
to live on purpose, making my choices with a view not only to my future, but also with a view to eternity;
to be generous, considering the needs of others above my own;
to help others identify and accomplish their goals in life;
to never quit learning, never lose my curiosity about the universe and how things work;
to learn so much about God that I KNOW His ways;
and to fully enjoy and get the most out of the current circumstances of my life.