Raise Your Vibration

There are times when I feel my energy wane and my mood shift to feeling edgy and 'down.' I limit my intake of news but do need to keep informed about the latest guidance from the CDC and local public health officials. In our little corner of the world, there are major changes happening with Tom's job and Ruth Anne's miraculous ongoing healing journey. While at times I feel incredibly hopeful and optimistic about these changes, at times my 'Negative Nancy' mind set takes over. Tears of gratitude that I know all is well and in Divine Order mix with an unsettling sense of fear. I focus my imagination on what I DO want rather than focus on negative outcomes.

When we were waiting for the results of Tom and Ruth Anne's COVID tests last year, Ruth Anne came up with a song called, "Raise Your Vibration".  She repeated raise your vibration several times and followed it with "You gotta plump plump plump your cells." It's a song we returned to this year while waiting for test results and one we often turn to to raise our vibration.

During these times, it can be challenging to always live in the higher vibrational frequencies. When I feel myself slipping into fear and worry, I nudge myself back to the gift of the present. Rather than harping on untoward outer appearances, I settle into dwelling in the present moment seeking out all that is right and good in my life. Sometimes I walk around my home giving thanks for the 'little things' like rolls of toilet paper, a refrigerator full of food, running water, air conditioning and a spacious home that is filled with love from my husband, daughter and our beautiful cat Jamie.

After dinner last night, we were feeling tired but knew how wonderful it would be to take a walk around the neighborhood. We breathed deeply letting go of any worry or fret and as our walk progressed, we were treated to the most incredible sunset accompanied by the sounds of the crickets' songs.

 

 

 

 

How could we possibly worry about anything when we bear witness to this expansive sky with incredible majesty reminding us of something far greater at work in the Universe. 

 I received a letter from Social Security telling me that I was denied for Medicare Part B. Part of Tom's leaving his job at Boston College has involved getting health care. I marvel at how the Universe led me to just right the person when I first looked at Medicare options. We were waiting for the Medicare Part B to be put in place so we could sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan. I was just about to pick up the phone to call Social Security prepared for at least a 30 minute wait, when the phone rang. It was the health insurance agent I had contacted who called to inform me that I'd been approved for Medicare Part B and we could sign up for the additional coverage. I told him what happened and expressed deep heartfelt gratitude for him for his diligent follow up. Today, Tom received his new Medicare card and signed up for his supplemental coverage. We are healthy and don't often use our health insurance, but like car insurance, it is a comfort to know it's there should we need it. 

When I believe and see that everything is falling into place, worries melt away. I get out of the way and allow the Universe to work its magic. 

If I am stuck in the mire of worry, I am not open to those delicious feelings of love, gratitude and possibility.

In the midst of uncertainty and times when the headlines can make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end, it's the very time to raise your vibration!

Raise Your Vibration

Fear and worry can shake us to the core
flashbacks to trauma and all that went before
headlines about tragedy leave us bereft of hope
take deep breaths letting go to forge a path to better cope.

Have trust to believe what eye does not yet see
Source's well of Love bathes all Beings to be free
light and ease and grace raining down cup your hand
plant your feet unwavering in faith we take our stand.

Live as if the dreams you dream so deep within your heart
are playing out right here and now no waiting for their start
purposes and passions unveil Truth let beauty shine
abundance, joy and happiness inheritance now is thine.

Raise your vibration sing out clear and sing out strong
Divinity's proximity is right where we belong
safe harbor from tumultuous times once trembling heart now steady beat
a new day now is dawning open door to future greet.

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

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

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 visit my News and Events tab on my website to hear interviews that will open your heart and mind to a powerful message of healing, hope and possibilities.

Outer Order - Inner Calm

 

When the pandemic first began, we did a LOT of decluttering. We rearranged furniture and created space as we entered a time of needing to spend the majority of our time at home. After the Boston Marathon bombings, we did a massive decluttering of our home and had a company come to haul away what was once stashed in our dormer, basement and closets that we no longer needed. If anything were to happen to my husband and me, we did not want our adult children left with sorting through what we collected through decades of being together. 

This summer has been one of the 6th hottest on record in Boston. We endured our fourth heat wave this past week. While I am deeply grateful to air conditioning, I have a love/hate relationship with it. I don't sleep as well when the windows are closed with the a/c on. I feel confined when it's unhealthy to be outdoors and the heat index is over 100 degrees. After several days of heat advisories, I needed to do something to elevate my mood. Options were a bit limited again as cases of COVID with the variant are on the rise and there is a new indoor mask mandate. While we continued to go on our runs, we had to limit time outside.

It was time to look around the house and create outer order to feed my inner calm that was waning with the news of booster shots, mask mandates and continued division in our country. People tend to forget that there is more to unite us than there is to divide us. I am blessed that my Facebook news feed is filled with quotes from light workers and I stay closely connected with those who express love and light in their quotes. I continue to resist the temptation to go to CNN.com or click on what's trending on Twitter that will invariably take me down the rabbit hole of negativity.

Ruth Anne and I cleaned out clothes in her closet. What a delicious feeling to donate clothes that were reminders of a time when she was struggling with her health. She helped me go through the linen closet, the kitchen and Tom and I decided to rearrange the home office. On September 17th, he bids his 6 1/2 year technology career at Boston College farewell. He is eligible for retirement at almost 70 years old and we had planned for retirement next Spring. But sometimes the Universe has other plans. We decided to take a collective leap of faith. To calm the butterflies, we created outer order with a cleaner look to our space in the office and living room. Tom was able to create inner space by doing exit interviews with upper management explaining why he was leaving. It was liberating for him to share why he needed to leave and the toll it was taking on his health and life/work balance.

Classes start on Tuesday for Ruth Anne and will be hybrid in person and on line. We are excited that she will be able to be on campus where everyone must be vaccinated. While there is an air of excitement, we  could anticipate this transition with greater joy if the pandemic were completely behind us. But we move forward celebrating health and well-being, the gift of the vaccine and trust that soon the pandemic will be a distant memory. Her room is arranged and ready for a successful semester of studies and working part-time.

As she was anticipating her schedule for the semester, she briefly became anxious and overwhelmed. She realized that something had to go as her schedule was too cluttered. While she dearly loves ReVision Urban Farm and planned to volunteer every other week at their stand at the Farmer's Market, she realized it would not afford her the opportunity to get her Saturday run on and be available for group projects as the semester gathered momentum.

We composed an email to the staff at the Farm and breathed a collective sigh of relief that we decluttered our Saturday schedule.

What a productive day of decluttering in many ways and on many levels for Team McManus! It felt so good to to take a deep breath and prepare to enter a new season with lots of open space on the calendar, in our physical space in the house and in our inner space. We spent time together, unplugged processing how we are coping with the ongoing pandemic and discovering what we need to thrive and have a sense of well-being during these turbulent times. Every month I change up my twice weekly strength training routine. As I turned the page in my journal, I looked through its pages. I tore off the pages that held energy from the past and created space to energize a future of abundance, health and well-being. I decluttered my email and updated social media photos.

As the heat wave broke in the evening, we opened the windows and turned off the air conditioners. In the stillness of evening we sat and listened to the crickets who loudly sang their song. They were inviting us to embrace the season of change, transitions and letting go of what we no longer need in our lives.

Embracing Change

As leaves' vibrant green begins to fade
crickets' song grows louder
as sun sets earlier every day
change is on the horizon.

Autumn's splendor on its way
nature's ebb and flow
juxtaposition of beauty and loss
heralding a new season.

Surrender to seasons of life
Divine Love surrounding
tempers fear of a trembling heart
heartful of faith.

Tempest of emotions
quieted in stillness
serenaded by sounds of silence
ready to embrace change.

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

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

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 visit my News and Events tab on my website to hear interviews that will open your heart and mind to a powerful message of healing, hope and possibilities.
 

 

From Crocus to Crickets

 It seems like in the blink of an eye we go from Spring's awakenings with celebrating seeing the first crocus poke through the once frozen ground to the growing crescendo of the cricket's song as hours of daylight diminish.

With all that is happening in the world it would be so easy to get swept up in the "rumor of sadness and change." There is ongoing devastation from the pandemic with the Delta Variant that could so easily be prevented if people would be vaccinated, mask up and use public health precautions that we used at the beginning of the pandemic. Fortunately businesses remain open and many events continue to take place.

I received my confirmation from the BAA for my volunteer assignment for packet stuffing.

The BAA is requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 48 hours of the assignment. It's an open air warehouse and we could wear masks as an extra layer of protection. But the communication from the BAA notes that they continue to monitor "the situation" and will make decisions based on recommendations from the CDC and public health officials.

It continues to feel like a tale of two pandemics. Governor Baker announced today that he is going to require all state workers to be vaccinated; no frequent testing as other localities are doing but vaccination or termination of employment. He has decided to leave mask mandates to localities for now. 

There were several concerts at Fenway Park in recent weeks and the Falmouth Road Race took place with 7000 runners finishing the race. Wearing of masks was optional and intermittent. There was a sense of incredible joy that the race returned to a live event.  It was the largest race in Massachusetts since March of 2020. Yet in the background, news of increased hospitalizations and rate of infections climbed especially among those who are not yet vaccinated. 

People are trying to balance living life and moving forward as if the pandemic were over with the ongoing guidance from the Surgeon General, the CDC and local Departments of Public Health. Our Town has  mandated masks indoors in all municipal buildings.

New guidelines have come out for booster shots. It is recommended that people with compromised immune systems receive a booster shot. People are urged to get a booster shot 8 months after being fully vaccinated.

There was such incredible joy and a sense of freedom as we celebrated the sights that heralded Springtime. We expected to experience a summer free from the specter of COVID. We thought that having made the choice to be vaccinated would bring with it freedom from masks, a sense of ease and leaving the trauma and stress of the past 18 months in the rear view mirror.

With the cricket's song, I get to choose how to embrace the change in seasons. I leave behind the expectations and disappointment that summer was not as we expected it to be for expectations only create suffering and turn my attention to all we have to be grateful for. We were able to celebrate the Twins' 34th birthday in person. It had been 4 years since our son Autumn and his girlfriend Michelle came to our house.

We enjoyed and continue to enjoy evening walks savoring sunsets:

 

We have our health. Tom and Ruth Anne each tested negative for their required COVID tests at Boston College. After a few bumps in the road at work, we are excited for Tom's transition to retirement from full time employment in technology after 40 years. We are blessed with a strong nuclear family that rides through challenges with resilience and a tapestry of care woven with love. We have a fabulous village. Even though we may not see them in person right now, our connections are strong. 

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent wrote an article with advice from experts on how to dance with COVID. 

One of my theme songs after the diagnosis of Post Polio Syndrome was "Dancing Through Life" from Wicked. Even though the doctors predicted that I would probably spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, I vowed I would find a way to dance through life whatever the circumstances. 

The cricket's song will be my soundtrack to dance through the transition from summer to Autumn accepting what is and being grateful for the many many blessings in our life.

From Crocus to Crickets

Can we eternally experience the hope of seeing the first crocus
even as cricket's song signals summer’s demise
 can we feel the jubilant joy of springtime even as sun sets earlier each day
seeing buds pregnant with possibilities gives birth to optimism
can autumn’s splendor ignite Spirit’s flame?

Can we bend with arc of the seasons
changing landscape of blooms
crescendo of cricket's song
heralding change
embracing transitions
always guided by Light
led by benevolent Beings
seen and unseen
surrounded by Divine Love.

Let melancholy linger for but a moment
remember the caterpillar
be at the ready
transform
soar in midst of uncertainty
a bird's eye view of life
joy in journey
trusting in life's rhythm and flow
all is well and in Divine Order.

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.