How Far We've Come!

 

As "Hail to the Chief" played, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. walked on the red carpet with a spring in his 78 year old step to deliver his Fourth of July remarks at the White House BBQ with essential workers and military families. He reminded us that we are declaring our independence from a deadly virus. Invited guests stood against a backdrop of red, white and blue balloons in the trees on the White House Lawn.

Looking back to 1776, he was quick to point out that our country was fashioned our of the power of an idea and now we have the power of science. As he celebrated America and, that we the people are back together again, the patriotic thing one can do is to vaccinate yourself for your loved ones, community and country. He reminded us that we never want to be where we were a year ago today. He celebrated how the virus no longer controls our lives or paralyzes our nation and it is now within our power to make sure it never does that again. He was quick to point out that putting the pandemic behind us and resurrecting the economy has been one of the most remarkable achievements in American history but in the midst of joy we know the heartache of loss that so many have endured from the virus and from other tragedies during this past year. 

It was such an inspiring way to kick off our July 4th Celebration. We had our traditional BBQ Chicken, grilled potatoes and salad. Over dinner, we reflected on where we were a year ago and how far we have come in our own lives, and as a country. Our daughter Ruth Anne was quick to point out that a year ago we didn't even know if "the other guy" was going to serve a 2nd term. The streets were silence. We wore masks wherever we went and while we focused on gratitude, love, performing acts of kindness and compassion, there was a constant hum of fear, anxiety and uncertainty. There were no Fourth of July celebrations and we all did the best we could to get through that time of darkness.

The last time we saw fireworks was on January 20, 2021 at the Inauguration of President Biden. We were overcome with emotion then, and this Fourth of July we were overcome with emotion as we watched "A Capital Fourth" and The Boston Pops live concert from Tanglewood.

Keith Lockhart was overcome with emotion as he welcomed the audience and thanked them for being there. Sixteen months after no performances, he shared the emotions we all have come to know; the mixture of relief, joy and grief for what we had to endure.

There was no live audience for "A Capital Fourth" but Vanessa Williams and 'surprise host' Kermit the Frog introduced the musicians and were later joined by Christopher Jackson for a live performance to cap off the concert before a 25 minute fireworks display over Washington.

Macy's fireworks lit up the New York City skyline 

 Crowds gathered on Boston Common to witness a fireworks display as the Pops played the traditional 1812 Overture in Tanglewood. 

It was a stunning Fourth of July celebration with the theme America is Back Together Again. The themes of unity, freedom, justice and all the principles of our Founding Fathers rang out across the land in song and celebration.

When we look back on a year ago when we were held captive by a virus and our President, we realize how incredibly far we've come. As President Biden said, it is a time of hope, promise and possibility.

May we all find the strength, resilience and resolve to go the distance and uphold the values upon which our country has been built.

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

Visit my website to learn more about my journey of transformation in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond.

Be sure to listen to my recent conversation with Liz Brunner, award winning journalist, now CEO of Brunner Communications on her podcast Live Your Best Life. I share how I live my best life despite the challenges that I faced at an early age.

For all of my recent appearances, be sure to visit my News and Events tab on my website.

My books to inspire and uplift you are available on Amazon.

Freedom Lies in Being Bold

 

My body's reaction to emerging from the pandemic has taken me a little off guard. It's a time of great paradox. While there are moments when it feels as if the pandemic never happened and we went from March 12th 2020 to May 29, 2021 experiencing a kind of time warp to things being "normal again," there is a cloud of fear with the news of the Delta variant and lock downs happening in other parts of the world. There is joy and celebration on this Fourth of July as we celebrate freedom from COVID yet I am experiencing a sense of awkwardness and trepidation as we move beyond these past 16 months.

After the 2nd vaccine, I experienced a lot of joint pain and muscle spasms. Was it a response to the vaccine or perhaps a reaction to all the stress and body flashbacks from polio and trauma I endured in childhood? Regardless of the cause, chiropractic care and a lot of meditation helped to ease the pain.

This past week, with plans for Tom to return to the office {hopefully in a hybrid model}, Ruth Anne getting ready to work part time and be on campus in late August, and the 50th anniversary of when my father ended his life after brutalizing us in the summer of 1971, my emotions expressed themselves through my body. I felt overwhelmed by the flood of emotions that I could not find words for which is quite unusual for me.

I listened as my body spoke expressing the trauma past and present in a myriad of ways. In my meditations, I focused on calm, peace, ease and freedom.

This morning I said to my body, "Okay. I hear you. Enough!" Rather than focus on the physicality of what was happening in my body, I thought, "What do you want to create? You've got to focus your thoughts on what is going to shift your body chemistry rather than maintain the stress."

During my meditation I took deep breaths and I heard Spirit speak the words, 'You deserve to feel and be well. You deserve to be free from experiencing the trauma in your body. Feel Source's Love in every cell.' I knew it was incumbent upon me to feel and find my freedom and be bold in claiming my health and well-being

I remembered the above photo and quote and the following poem flowed through me after we finished our meditation:

Be Bold 

 

Dare to believe

you are worthy of a wonderful life

imagination opens door to infinite possibilities

hope and healing a breath away.

Emboldened by Source’s Love

Sorcerer co-creating

conjuring ease

even in midst of strife

peace treaty

bold to be free

freedom from fear. 

 

Unfreezing

blazing a new trail

pathways of light

dispersing clouds of darkness

despairing depressing thoughts

whisked away

negatives developed

reveal Truth. 

 

Be bold

daring to be joyful

smiling from depths of soul

believe in birthright

let freedom ring! 

 

I felt my heart open and only whispers from the symptoms that were plaguing me. I felt more steady and calm and know that I need to draw from this state of being as we move forward emerging from the pandemic.

 

 

 It takes courage and being bold to face whatever is keeping us from experiencing our natural state of joy, happiness and well-being. But when we do we experience life as Source intended us to.

 

Let freedom ring as we enjoy this Fourth of July free from the constraints of the pandemic.

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.