Julia Parsell

 

“Every one of us is called upon, perhaps many times, to start a new life. A frightening diagnosis, a marriage, a move, loss of a job...And onward full-tilt we go, pitched and wrecked and absurdly resolute, driven in spite of everything to make good on a new shore. To be hopeful, to embrace one

possibility after another– that is surely the basic instinct...Crying out: High tide! Time to move out into the glorious debris. Time to take this life for what it is.” –Barbara Kingsolver, Modern Appalachian Woman and prolific writer

 

One thing I’ve learned as I have lived among and with Appalachian women all my life, is a character of strength, resilience, and unconditional love. Yes, I have been blessed with these women in my life. Many of them have embraced both the feminine and masculine energies by being both mother

and provider for the family, including my mother and my aunt. Yes, even strong Appalachian women cry and get discouraged, yet they don’t stay down, and as a butterfly they morph into a new and better version of themselves as they journey along. Here is a bit of my story as a modern

Appalachian woman.

 

Born in Radford, Virginia, I grew up from the age of one in Washington Co., Virginia, attended John S Battle High School and Virginia Highlands Community College. My life followed a “normal”

trajectory for over forty-five years: married, children, church life, community involvement, then

explosion! This explosion was leaving a long marriage and telling my children that I was “digging

down to my roots to find myself.” They were tearfully shocked, but loved me in spite of the upsetting

news.

 

At the time of my exploding into new depths of self, I was running several locations of Java J’s

(coffee shops) that I had begun years previously. I felt the 2008 recession, as many of us did. I

began closing locations and eventually worked through a personal bankruptcy. Fortunately, my ‘main

stay,’ Java J’s Downtown in Bristol, continued to do well and provided me with much

encouragement. I learned a lot about people during those tough days. It is when you get down to the

nitty gritty you learn the character of an individual. I smile thinking of how honorably several of my

landlords worked with me as I had to bow out early from leases.

 

In my rising up, I learned new skills and health from a ‘w’holistic view that had always been deep in

my heart, just as prayer continues to be so. I have two memories that are poignant from two

grandmothers. When I was a little girl, I would travel to Roanoke Virginia, with my grandmother and

brother, Chuck, as our mother stayed in Bristol to work and study. We visited with my great

grandparents for a couple of weeks every summer of my childhood. One night as the three of us

were going to sleep (all in the same room), my grandmother said, “Julie, are you awake? What are

you doing?” I remember telling her that I was praying. Faith has always held a strong position in my

life.

 

Being raised in a Christian home taught me many fine qualities, yet when I went down to my roots I

began to question everything that I was taught. When I home-schooled my children, we memorized

many Bible passages, one was Psalms 19. This Psalm was particularly significant to me as I saw

God being available for everyone, no one being excluded. The other memory is that of a great-

grandmother that I knew, but as a young person didn’t fully know. She was an Earth mother,

believing in the “more” to life and that all we need to sustain us comes from the Earth in

nourishment, relationships, and healing. I thank my aunt Donna for sharing this with me. In my

maturity, I have embraced this as well. I continue my education in holistic health, human

consciousness, and herbalism.

 

As I say human consciousness, I hear gasps that I have left the faith of Jesus Christ. On the

contrary, I have not, although the relationship has morphed into greater depths and complexities as

shown in an entry from my journal almost 10 years ago. I speak to myself, because I must listen. I

speak truth, because it is enduring and full of promise. I speak to myself, because I am full of hope,

knowing that the circumstances of my life do not define me. I can't wait for circumstances to change

to make my life better. It doesn't happen that way. I am the master of my destiny. I must seize the

opportunity and learn from others who have gone before me and have learned lessons for enjoying a

rich life from whatever circumstances prevail.

 

I am Julia Parsell. I returned to my birth name and am happily married living in the Appalachians of

Western NC.