And if it weren't for the pandemic, I might not have been as anxious as I was venturing out to meet with people outside of my family for the first time in 16 months in an indoor setting.
Ever since I prepared to take that leap of faith 14 years ago and leave my career as a VA social worker to heal my life from the effects of paralytic polio and trauma, I imagined myself sharing my story with major media interviewers. I have been blessed to be featured on Channel 7 Boston news, radio shows and podcasts through the years. In the context of the pandemic, I felt an urgency to share my experiences as one who contracted paralytic polio and endured years of trauma but was able to emerge triumphant from those horrific experiences and, to quote the title of Liz's podcast, "live my best life."
In the days leading up to recording the podcast I visualized how I wanted the experience to be. I did a 'dry run' to the recording location to scope out parking. I imagined a parking space being available for me on 'game day.' I listened to Liz's podcast as she interviewed other guests and reviewed my website celebrating my journey of transformation.
We were in the middle of a heat wave but fortunately we have air conditioning in our home and car and there were no power outages! I took my time with hair, clothes and make up as I prepared to be interviewed by Liz who had interviewed President Obama, Barbara Walters and many many famous people during her tenure as an award winning journalist. We chatted briefly on the phone before setting a date to record our podcast and she was warm and inviting during our conversation. Right before we recorded the podcast I said, "I must admit. I'm a bit starstruck." "I'm just Liz," she said with warmth and humility.
My parking space was waiting. A doorman asked me for my name and moved the revolving door for me. The concierge with smiling eyes beyond the mask she wore stood behind plexiglass. "Would you like me to put on a mask? I'm fully vaxxed." "No you're fine," she said. She had me follow her to the door of a conference room and knocked.
Dan Thibeault greeted me with a huge smile. As I said, "Hi Dan. I didn't know you were going to be here," and Liz said, 'Oh yes he's my digital producer,' he swept me up into a huge hug. I couldn't stop smiling as Liz stepped forward and embraced me in a warm hug. Dan and I met when I recorded a podcast with Jordan Rich at Chart Productions. Coincidentally, he is the podcast producer for The Cardinal Cafe. As the host, Greg Chastain read one of my poems, Dan set it to beautiful music.
To calm my nerves I said, "I brought a sweater because I didn't know if the air conditioning would be turned on high." They asked if I needed the air turned up because they keep it low to not interfere with the sound of the recording. I told them I was fine with the room temperature.
I shared with them that I chose to wear the scarf that Patricia Mills painted to celebrate Billy Mills 80th birthday that I won in a Facebook contest. Billy won the Gold in the 10,000 meter in the 1964 Olympics and no American has ever won that event since then. "He's a champion and so am I. That's why I chose to wear it today!" They both nodded in agreement.
We started the session with Dan taking photos:
I love how our colors complement each other and how Dan captured our radiant spirits in the photo. He was incredibly attentive and complimentary which warmed my heart and soul. Liz had copious notes prepared and asked me if I would feel comfortable reading my poetry. Her copy of "Hope is a Garden: Poems and Essays From the 2020 Pandemic" was well loved with paper clips and yellow highlighter. I told her I'd prefer it if she would read my poems. Liz gave me tips of how to relax so that my nerves would not hijack my message which is what she does best at Brunner Communications.
Love and compassion flowed and Spirit's presence palpable as Liz and I engaged in conversation about my journey of transformation for her podcast "Live Your Best Life." Liz took my hands in hers after we finished. Dan took more photos and after a brief conversation we said goodbye with several more hugs.
The last time I experienced hugs outside of my husband and daughter was on March 8, 2020 when we hosted the water stop for our running club training for the marathon. While the pandemic wreaked havoc in so many ways in so many lives, the lack of in person social contact and being able to hug each other wreaked havoc on our hearts!
While I've done podcasts via Zoom to experience the "face to face" contact while recording audio content, being together in the same room and feeling the physical presence of another complete with hugs almost surpassed -- I said almost -- surpassed having this incredible opportunity to share my story on Liz Brunner's Live Your Best Life podcast now in the incredibly talented hands of podcast producer Dan Thibeault.
Stay tuned for when it will be live!
From my heart to yours
In health and wellness
Mary
Be sure to listen to my conversation with Greg Chastain and Ed Siegel on their Voices of Hope podcast, The Cardinal Cafe. From Greg Chastain: The latest episode of The Cardinal Cafe is up! On this episode we meet Mary McManus. Mary is a motivational speaker, author, poet, 2009 Boston Marathon Finisher, polio and trauma survivor. She has a remarkable story of resilence, healing, Hope and possibilities. Once you hear her tell her story you will want to rush out to purchase her newest book of poems “Hope is a Garden” which she wrote during the recent pandemic. So please join us for this incredible story.
For
more information about my journey from childhood polio and trauma to
the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond, visit my website.
Be sure to check out my website's News and Events
page for upcoming and past interviews where I share my remarkable and
inspirational journey as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma.
My books to inspire and uplift you are available on Amazon.
No comments:
Post a Comment