Sixteen Years Ago! What Had I Done?

 

It was a beautiful sunny day with a bright blue sky as I pulled out of my driveway to head to the Jamaica Plain Campus of the Boston VA Healthcare System. I had to 'clear out' visiting different departments before I would officially 'terminate' my employment as an award winning social worker just three years shy of when I was 'eligible' for retirement. May 25, 2007 would have been my father's 86th birthday. It was the date my daughter 'randomly' chose after I had been diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome followed by an abnormal mammogram that I was able to reverse harnessing the power of the mind/body connection. It was the Universe's way of telling me to let go and take that leap of faith to heal my life and follow my newfound bliss as a poet and writer. 

When I got home, I sat in my yard working on the manuscript of my first book "New World Greetings: Inspirational Poetry and Musings for a New World.' I felt an odd mix of exhilaration and fear.  I asked myself "What had I just done?" It was a question I'd ask myself many times throughout these past 16 years as I took different risks going way beyond my comfort zone.

I can now answer that question. What had I done? I had left behind the stress that was taking a toll on me mind, body and soul. I had loved caring for veterans and their families but I had forgotten how to care for myself. I had a classic case of burnout.  

I left feeling a sense of great accomplishment validated by these two gifts and many others that veterans and their families presented to me as I was leaving:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What had I done? I allowed creativity to flow through what I came to call my pen, my Divining rod for healing as I wrote poetry about gratitude, and forgiveness to heal my traumatic past while harnessing the power of the mind/body connection to create a future very different than the one predicted for me by Western Medicine.

I embarked on a journey of adventure having no idea where the path may lead but trusting in Divine Guidance every step of the way. Those steps turned into miles - marathon miles as I crossed the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon.

When I told my personal trainer that I wanted to run the 2009 Boston Marathon having never run a day in my life and still wearing a toe up leg brace, I asked myself what had I done? I had set out on a quest to see what this body was capable of. What had I done? I crossed a finish line that became a moment of redemption for me and a story of healing, hope and unimaginable possibilities to share with the world.

 

 

The journey of transformation can be messy at times filled with trials, tribulations and triumphs. As I share my journey as a motivational speaker or as a guest on radio shows and podcasts, I am honest and vulnerable. Yet I also share how I see life through a lens of optimism, faith, gratitude and hope and joy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this Mark Twain quote:

It's another beautiful May 25th now 16 years later. I'll be getting in my miles, working on my 7th book in my yard and feeling gratitude overflow from my heart with no disappointments or regrets celebrating that I found the courage to take that leap of faith and fly!

Be sure to listen to Episode 56 of the On the Runs podcast by following this link. Subscribe and download to this podcast overflowing with stories of grit and determination including my remarkable story that took me from being told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond!

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary


Visit my website to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page.

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