The Wings of Transformation

There are so many wonderful quotes using the butterfly as a metaphor for transformation. Perhaps one of my favorites is by Maya Angelou:

 

Fifteen years ago today I sat in my 2nd floor office at the Boston VA Outpatient Clinic. Almost all of my personal belongings were at home in preparation for my last day leaving behind my award winning social work career. I was hoping to stay on for 3 more years until I was 'eligible' for retirement but realized that I was at a crossroads in my life and needed to choose a path. I chose the path of healing my life from the once devastating effects of childhood paralytic polio and trauma.

My schedule to see patients was sparse. I made many phone calls to let veterans and their families know of my impending departure and reassured them that there would be wonderful staff available to help them until my position was filled. Many patients and their families stopped by to say goodbye bearing beautiful thank you gifts. I reminded them of the many gifts they gave me by allowing me to be a part of their lives. 

I kept a journal on a yellow legal pad using it to visualize my life after the VA. I wrote in exquisite detail how I imagined my life as a NY Times Bestselling Author whose poetry touched the hearts and souls of many. My courageous journey of taking a leap of faith and all I endured in my life would inspire Oprah to have me as a guest on her show. I imagined meeting up with friends and potential clients for fancy lunches with my portfolio of "New World Greeting Cards: Original Poetry for Every Occasion." 

I incorporated what I am grateful for as part of the journal. 

While maintaining a brave, optimistic and hopeful demeanor about my future, a part of me was terrified! I used daily affirmations and worked to stay focused only on positive outcomes but it was a challenge to tune out the prognosis I had been given of a progressive neuromuscular disease. When I wrote poetry and focused on feeling as if I were already living in a healthy body, I literally felt no pain! But then the 'reality' of being in a leg brace, using a cane at times for mobility and being extremely deconditioned and limited in my functioning returned. 

I listened to my intuition and had this incredible sense of faith and trust that I made the right decision to leave the stress of my career. Fortunately, my husband and children supported me in all ways.

I read my poetry and shared my story at assisted living facilities as a way to ease my transition from my social work career which is all I had known for the past 25 years. I met amazing people along the way.

In October of 2007, one of my veteran volunteers who had become a good friend, introduced me to Janine Hightower who was starting her in home personal training business. She was a member of BNI, Business Networking International and my veteran wanted us to meet to see how we could network to grow each other's business. But as we sat there, I wasn't focused on my business but rather her in home personal training business Boston Homebodies.

I asked her if she thought she could help me to build on the outpatient therapy program I received from Spaulding. After my first session with her, I could barely move but I knew that if I were going to experience pain, I'd rather experience pain on the side of healing.

It required a great deal of patience and struggle to move out of the body of a survivor of childhood paralytic polio and trauma and reclaim my earthly home. When one looks at the picture of me at the 2009 Boston Marathon finish line:

you would never know the hours of struggle and pain both emotional and physical that I went through on that journey of transformation. The freedom and unbridled joy I experienced to have received my wings of transformation that day and that help me to continue to fly free as I was always meant to be made the journey worthwhile. I haven't yet had my books on the New York Times bestseller list but when I receive heartwarming reviews from my readers, I feel as though I have achieved that status. I haven't been a guest on Oprah but have been blessed to share my journey with many podcasters, radio talk show hosts and guest speaker at events. I was featured on a Channel 7 news piece. Visit the News and Events tab on my website to listen to my inspiring and uplifting interviews. I was blessed to have my story shared in Dr. David Hamilton's "Tenth Edition of How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body" and be a guest on his Hay House Radio Show. While I imagined many wonderful things happening in my life, what came to be was far more incredible than what I wrote about on my yellow legal pad in anticipation of my last day at the VA fifteen years ago.

From my heart to yours,
In health and wellness,
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at https://marymcmanus.com to learn about my journey to health and wellness in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma

My books to motivate, uplift and inspire you are available on Amazon
 

I Still Remember....

As I prepare to celebrate the 15th anniversary of when I took a leap of faith from my award winning career as a VA social worker to heal my life from the effects of paralytic polio and trauma, I was moved to remember the days I prayed for the blessings I now have in my life.

I've never been a pedicure kind of gal and one of the things I asked my then physical therapist, Allison Poole, was how I could cut my own toenails. I was so stiff and deconditioned that I couldn't use a toe nail clipper to cut my own toenails! This morning I felt my heart open in gratitude for being able to do this simple act. In 2007, this was no simple act for me to perform.

My bathroom had a tub seat because I was unable to stand in the shower without fatigue. I had a toe up leg brace to support the atrophied muscles in my left leg.

 

Tom would help me attach the brace to my shoes.

I hugged the banister to walk from the first floor of my house and would limit the number of trips I made from the first to the second floor. My family did the laundry because it was too much for me to walk downstairs to the basement. We used PeaPod for grocery delivery. I wore a wrist splint to manage the symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome. Although I implemented strategies for energy conservation at work, I was tired ALL THE TIME. No matter how much sleep I got, I was exhausted all the time. It was a classic case of burnout not knowing how to practice self-care as I cared for veterans and their families and my family.

In February of 2007, after having been given the diagnosis of a progressive neuromuscular disease the previous December, I realized I was at a crossroads in my life. I got still. As I did whenever faced with dire circumstances in my life, I asked for Divine Guidance. The poem, "Running the Race" poured out of me and, despite the dire diagnosis and prognosis, my heart opened to gratitude.

"...Using wheelchair to travel, set limits on what I could do
resulted in joy to realize I could live life anew.
Celebrated my body-creaks, groans and need for a brace
while in my mind I focused on winning a 10K race.

I'm now off the sidelines, no need to sit and whine
so much gratitude fills my heart and love and beauty shine.
After all these years I can join the loving human race
I exceed all expectations and now I set the pace."

Partnering with Allison at Spaulding Rehab, I believed I was no longer destined  to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, nor was it a foregone conclusion that I would experience an accelerated aging process as a result of the paralytic polio I contracted as a child. Poetry inspired me to heal mind, body and soul while working with Allison to heal the breach in my mind/body connection. Using a biofeedback machine she showed me the physical stress of my job at the VA. We asked the VA to order adaptive equipment for me to diminish the physical stress because I was determined to work for 3 more years until I was eligible for retirement. The Universe clearly had other plans for me. 

After an abnormal mammogram, I focused my energies on dissolving the lump in my breast and realized it was time to leave my award winning career. When I returned for a repeat mammogram, the lump was no longer there! They said that it must have been a mistake on the original film but after receiving the call that they needed to repeat the film, I felt the lump, knew it was no mistake and the Universe saying "This is your wake up call!" When I received the all clear, Ruth Anne said what are you waiting for? We chose the date 5/25 as my last day at the VA. I gave my 6 weeks notice and while feeling terrified at what I was about to do, I could feel the healing happening every day in mind, body and soul.

At 68 years old I feel fantastic. I can go to the grocery store, exercise 5 days a week, walk up and down stairs with ease, get a good night's sleep on most nights and wake up feeling energized and ready to greet the day. I take time for meditation and self-care. I practice an attitude of gratitude knowing how blessed I am with this miracle of healing. I have a powerful message of healing, hope and possibility to share as a 2009 Boston Marathon finisher, and a woman who took a leap of faith to heal and transform her life. It is my fervent hope and prayer that my journey can give hope to those dealing with Long COVID. The symptoms of Post-Polio Syndrome and Long COVID are eerily similar.

 

This morning I smiled after I cut my toenails and my heart swelled with gratitude. I still remember the days I prayed for the blessings I have now.

From my heart to yours,
In health and wellness,
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at https://marymcmanus.com to learn about my journey to health and wellness in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma

Visit the News and Events tab to listen to my inspiring and uplifting interviews

My books to motivate, uplift and inspire you are available on Amazon

Every Finish Line is a Starting Line: Reflections on an Epic Race-cation

 

Whether being a runner or a spectator, the experience of a race weekend is exhilarating. It has been two years since we have been able to feel the energy and sense of community that is part of a race-cation. Last November, while I was writing "Into the Light: Emerging From the 2020 Pandemic," I asked Ruth Anne what she thought the arc of my story should be. Without hesitation she said, "After we cross the finish line of the Providence Marathon next May." Initially, that didn't feel quite right to me but here we are. It feels as though we have crossed the finish line of the pandemic and Ruth Anne has crossed the finish line of a season of healing in her life. 

During the pre-Boston Marathon festivities last October, Ruth Anne planned to run the Boston Marathon in April for Spaulding Rehab. Applications would open in December. Once we had a proper diagnosis and treatment for Ruth Anne and she was on the road to recovery, Ruth Anne fell in love with volunteering at ReVision Urban Farm. She created a birthday fundraiser for me in December of 2020 and continued fund raising for her birthday in August of 2021. Eve Rabinowitz, the Corporate and Community Engagement Manager for Victory Programs reached out to Ruth Anne last November. She noted that she knew Ruth Anne was involved with different causes and might not have the time, but would she consider doing a Friends Feeding Friends fundraiser. Ruth Anne took a pause on running Boston and talked with Eve about running the Providence Marathon to raise money for Victory Programs and the Farm. Eve was ecstatic and set up her fundraising page with an initial goal of $3000.

As serendipity would have it, Brian Simons who I knew through Spaulding Rehab's Race for Rehab Team was launching his Coaching Business, Creaky Bones: Running-Coaching-Performance. He was establishing a new business and Team McManus needed a coach. In early December, we partnered with Brian and Creaky Bones.

After a 15 mile training run which was preceded by Tom shoveling us out from a snowstorm and several weeks after a 9 mile training run on the treadmill, Tom powered through but ended up sideways and in a lot of pain. We decided that a full marathon was not in the stars but a half marathon would become the goal. Coach adjusted the training plan. Victory Programs was all in with the change and our village was incredibly supportive about the change in distance.

They trained with heart, dedication, persistence and determination and race day was epic!

We drove to Providence, went to bib pick up:

 and our room at the Omni Providence was ready for an early check in. We had never been to Providence before and it was challenging to navigate our way around since people encouraged us to use the sky walk from the hotel to the mall. We eventually found our way to Uno Pizzeria (and found a penny along the way)

We were so happy to get off of our feet back in the room. We unpacked and had a long meditation/nap. We went downstairs to get bottles of sparkling water and the once quiet and subdued lobby was bustling with activity. Runners had their gear in tow and we were asking one another, "What are you running tomorrow." We were thrilled with our early check in and a room on the 3rd floor where we could hunker down with room service and relaxation.

The beauty of the setting sun bode well for race day:

Rise and shine at 5:45 to allow for plenty of time for breakfast, pre-race bathroom time (runners will appreciate the importance of that step), and walking to the starting line. Throngs of runners lined the streets on the path to the starting line. We arrived in time to hear the start of the marathon and take pre-race photos.

"Look! There's Brian," Ruth Anne shouted. He came running over to us. I love how we're able to find people in a crowd of over 2000 runners:

Brian's presence helped to calm pre-race jitters especially for me as a spectator. We sent Tom and Ruth Anne off to the back of the pack and Brian and I waited at the start to cheer them on their 13.1 journey:

 

 

Brian helped me to get set up at the finish line while he went out to find a spot to cheer them on out on the course:

 

I sent out lots of great energy for Tom and Ruth Anne while reading the social media messages of cheers and prayers. I was a little unnerved when I received a text saying Ruth Anne crossed the finish at 8:04 with a course time of 2:04:43 and a pace of 9:32. Right after I received the text, Eve (who was coming down with Chief Development Office Deborah Edison to cheer on Tom and Ruth Anne at the finish) texted me asking if that was correct. I told her no worries, they just started, I did not expect to receive a text with an update and knew I just had to trust in their training and of course the Divine. 

What a very pleasant surprise to receive a text with an update at the 10K letting me know that Tom and Ruth Anne were running a 14:46 minute/mile pace. I immediately texted Brian who responded with, "Perfect. I found a great spot at Mile 11."

I was getting a little anxious as I calculated the pace and how far they had to go to Mile 11 (never a good idea) and asked Brian if he saw them. "Not yet," he replied, "Soon." He let me know that they were back on the roads after Mile 11 with smiles and were slowed down by Porta-potty stops but reassured me they were looking strong. "They're walking," he added letting me know that they slowed their pace. They had planned to do a run/walk interval. By mile 11, Tom was feeling the miles.

Brian sent me this photo:

Eve texted me to say they arrived but she couldn't find me. The crowd of spectators had grown thick by then as runners began to cross the finish line. "I'm wearing the red Victory Programs shirt," she texted and within a minute we found each other. I was so grateful that I did not have to wait alone during those last 2.1 miles. Another friend texted that they were on their way but were having trouble parking. "Have they crossed yet?" Karen asked. A moment before I received her text, Ruth Anne texted me with, "One mile to go." The text came sooner than I expected!

We all had our cameras ready to capture the epic moment. Brian was able to capture the announcement:

I wasn't sure if my video even came out because I was so overcome with emotion:

I love how they high-fived and embraced. Tom and Ruth Anne made their way over to us. It was as though the runners and spectators around us faded into the background while Tom, Ruth Anne, Eve, Deborah, Brian, Karen and her husband Chris excitedly talked with each other. Karen said this was such a great opportunity to check off seeing Tom and me. We were about to get together before the pandemic. Karen said she has a list of people on her "we were planning to get together list and then the pandemic happened." We plan to get together this summer in Providence. Deborah and Eve regaled us with gratitude and compliments and yet Ruth Anne thanked them for this amazing opportunity. 

They presented us with these beautiful track jackets embroidered with Victory Programs on them:

 

Our hearts overflowed with love, gratitude, joy, excitement for the accomplishment of running a half marathon and exhilaration for an incredibly successful fundraising campaign. 

Ruth Anne said that crossing that finish line would be the beginning of a new season in her life. The journey on the Road to Providence for Victory Programs awakened within her a gift, a passion and a purpose that Deborah would like to support and nourish. Ruth Anne scoured the internet for programs to further her education and for career exploration. While she started a program at Boston College for a Masters in Leadership and Administration, it wasn't feeding her heart and soul. Deborah suggested she get a certificate in Professional Fundraising at Boston University. Who knew such a thing existed? 

Every finish line is a starting line! Ruth Anne is so excited to pursue her passion in this next season of her life. Tom feels incredibly vibrant and energized by being able to run a half marathon at 70 and plans a return appearance with Ruth Anne next year. A year ago, Tom felt 'old' but he realized he still had a LOT of life left in him. He left his job where he was under appreciated and experienced age discrimination and is doing contract work. Training for this race gave him that extra boost he needed to feel healthy and younger than his biological age. He enters a new season in his life with great anticipation of perhaps winning his age group (he came in 7/8) and enjoying these later years of his life.

I was transformed through their journey and being a part of the racing scene again. We are emerging from the pandemic into the light stronger and more resilient than before the pandemic began. I am celebrating 15 years of healing this month. On 5/25/2007, I set off on a new season of my life taking a leap of faith leaving behind my award winning social work career to heal my life. 

It's a time of wondrous and wonderful happenings that was reflected in conversations overheard after the race. One marathoner said, "We really needed this!"

On our way back to the hotel, we found another penny:

We enjoyed a post-race celebration meal along with many other runners at The Cheesecake Factory where people congratulated each other and greeted each other with "How did you do?" It's been two years since we've had this kind of experience and my heart and soul overflowed with gratitude that we could have this experience again.

As for Coach Brian, he posted this on Facebook:

I am so inspired by them! It was so awesome to see their hard work and my coaching business notch its first finish!

・・・

It took a few days to process how amazing Sunday was as a coach!

I am so proud of my athletes! They did it! My clients crushed their half marathon in Providence this past weekend! A 20 minute PR! Their diligence and dedication paid off! I’m so grateful to have had the the opportunity to create their training plans, adjust them as needed, and help them enjoy the process and progress!

On to the next race and goal!

#halfmarathon #runcoach #movethosebones #creakybonesrcp

 

Indeed -- every finish line is a starting line!

 

From my heart to yours,
In health and wellness,
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at https://marymcmanus.com to learn about my journey to health and wellness in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma

Visit the News and Events tab to listen to my inspiring and uplifting interviews

My books to motivate, uplift and inspire you are available on Amazon

It's Time for a Race-cation

 

It seems like only yesterday that I started the On The Road to Providence For Victory Programs to document Ruth Anne and Tom's journey of training and fundraising. It started out as on the road to the Providence Marathon, but after a 15 mile training run left Tom sideways, Team McManus opted for the Half Marathon distance. They received so much support from our village and Victory Programs for their decision. When we talked with Coach Brian Simons, we talked about how the pandemic had taken a toll on everyone mind, body and soul. As we emerge from the pandemic, we all needed to honor what would be best for all Tom and Ruth Anne as runners, and for me as the marathon manager.

Our last race-cation was in February of 2020 at Hyannis Marathon Weekend. As we crowded the ballroom and hallways, greeted each other with hugs and high fives and warmly hugged each other goodbye with "See you in Boston," we had no idea life would come to a screeching halt a few weeks later. The pandemic has been quite the journey. I know how incredibly blessed we have been through it all. Ruth Anne had to take yet another COVID test for work and once again it was negative. We have all been physically healthy throughout the pandemic. There were bumps along the road exacerbated by the pandemic that took a toll on our emotional well-being but gratitude helps us to keep a perspective on how blessed and fortunate we are. 

Tom and Ruth Anne trained through every kind of weather. The forecast looks amazing for Sunday. The question is how many times can I refresh the Weather Channel page set to Providence weather before Sunday. We started packing last week checking off necessities that we could pack ahead of time on our list. This Race-cation has a very different feel from pre-pandemic Race-cations. There is an excitement intensified by the two year hiatus since we had a running vacation. Appreciation and gratitude overflow knowing how precious life is. Our freedom to travel, stay at a hotel and gather with friends at a race weekend is no longer something we come to expect in our lives.

During an interview on Tuesday, chief medical advisor Anthony Fauci shared that the U.S. is “out of the pandemic phase” of COVID-19 as hospitalizations and cases have plummeted.

Fauci made his statement during an interview with PBS’s “NewsHour” when he was asked if the nation was close to the end of the pandemic.

“We are certainly right now in this country out of the pandemic phase,” Fauci said.

During an interview with The Washington Post, Fauci clarified that the global pandemic is still going on, but the U.S. is going through a transition period.

“The world is still in a pandemic. There’s no doubt about that. Don’t anybody get any misinterpretation of that. We are still experiencing a pandemic,” Fauci said.

However, he said that the virus is no longer causing the same amount of hospitalizations and deaths that it had when omicron swept the nation over the winter.

Throughout the winter, Fauci said the U.S. was experiencing a “full-blown pandemic phase.” Then, he said when cases started falling, it moved into a “deceleration” phase, and now we are transitioning to the control phase.

“The way we were months ago, where we were having 900,000 cases a day, tens of thousands of hospitalizations, three thousand deaths a day,” Fauci said. “The deaths went from 3,000 down to 300.”

Fauci predicted we would hit a “control” stage of the pandemic by last fall, before the delta and omicron variants emerged, causing a spike in cases. Now he is saying the same, as new variants are not posing a threat.

The doctor said that omicron subvariants have started to spread, they are not impacting hospitalizations or deaths like their variant predecessor.

“Right now, we’re at a low enough level that I believe that we’re transitioning into endemicity. ... We’re not in the full-blown explosive pandemic phase. That does not mean that the pandemic is over,” Fauci said. “A pandemic means widespread infection throughout the world. ... In our country, we’re transitioning into more of a controlled endemicity.”

With cases getting better, the nation has started to adjust to a new way of life as mask mandates, restrictions, and other COVID-19 era policies continue to be lifted.

Even though mandates are becoming a thing of the past, COVID-19 is still present in our communities, and health experts continue to urge Americans to make the best choices for themselves. 

During a Race-cation, we would plan to take advantage of all of the hotel amenities. We decided to forego use of the swimming pool. Food service at the hotel is still limited so we will be bringing all of our breakfast needs for race day. We will look like we are going away for a week with all of our bags but that was true pre-pandemic.

When we check into the hotel, we will have come full circle from the last week of February in 2020. Once again we are able to look forward to a weekend of anticipation, excitement, bib pick ups, pre-race fueling for runners and support crew, asking people as they pass by, "You running on Sunday?", getting up at the crack of dawn on Sunday, feeling #allthefeels and heading to the start line. We are visualizing Race Weekend from start to finish with exactly how we want it to be. It's easy for gremlin thoughts that are residue from having lived through the pandemic to creep in but I keep coming back to focusing on how we all want the weekend to be and staying focused on only positive experiences.

The hay is in the barn as they say. The fundraising was a phenomenal success raising $7700 for Victory Programs and their ReVision Urban Farm. To learn about the work they do to help with healing, hope, recovery, housing and food security visit Ruth Anne's fundraising page and if you are so moved, make a donation to support her run.

It's two more sleeps until we head to Providence for our first Race-cation in two years. 

From my heart to yours,
In health and wellness,
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at https://marymcmanus.com to learn about my journey to health and wellness in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma

Visit the News and Events tab to listen to my inspiring and uplifting interviews

My books to motivate, uplift and inspire you are available on Amazon

 

1,099 Days

 

"As marathoners we know about pacing, about hard days, about broken dreams and yet we keep showing up. We hang onto hope.  We can beat this current storm. We will win this race. And the after party will be glorious!" ~Anonymous

And what a glorious after party we had at the 126th running of the 2022 Boston Marathon on 4/18/2022. It had been 1,099 days since the tradition of the Boston Marathon, run on the 3rd Monday in April took place. 

Ever since I ran the 2009 Boston Marathon, the 3rd Monday in April has been a part of our lives. In 2011, Tom ran Boston for Childrens Hospital. In 2013 we returned to the Mandarin and joined our Race for Rehab Team. Unfortunately the day did not end as a typical Marathon Monday but on the third Monday in April in 2014, Boston ran again and Meb won! We have our special spot to spectate on the corner of Dean Road and Beacon Street just before Mile 23. Except for 2018, we watched the race in person tracking and cheering on our friends with signs and #morecowbell.

We knew that the energy would be unlike any we had known with the hiatus of Boston running in April. The weather was spectacular. Tom and Ruth Anne had a shake out training run scheduled as they prepare for their Providence Half Marathon on May 1st. We debated about whether or not to get our seats secured or if they should first do their run. We were wise to postpone their run as Beacon Street spectators were out bright and early.

We had a front row seat to see Daniel Romanchuk in the lead:

We turned to the spectators around us and as if we were of one mind, marveled at how he had such an incredible lead. There was no other racer in sight. There was a six minute difference between 1st and 2nd place in the wheelchair division!

I wasn't able to capture the men's lead pack but did capture Race Director Dave McGillivray on his infamous scooter:

We were hoping to see American women lead the field but Olympian Molly Seidel had to leave the race at mile 15 due to a hip impingement. Nell Rojas once again took top American woman for the 2nd year in a row. She finished 10th overall for the women's race. Desi Linden always receives a roar of cheers from the crowd.

It was a thrilling fight to the finish for the top two women, Peres Jepchirchir and Ababel Yeshaneh, separated by only 4 seconds after Peres Jepchirchir broke the finisher's tape. We could see from our vantage point that it was a tight race:

We had a bit of a breather after the lead runners passed through before the real challenge of the day began; finding our runner friends among the throngs of runners heading to the finish.

 

Ruth Anne was ready with her signs as we tracked our friends on the BAA racing app:

 

 

 

Erin Foley was Ruth Anne's occupational therapist at Spaulding Rehab. She has a gift in helping those who have experienced life-altering injuries or illnesses to help them regain their independence and find their strength. Even after discharge last September, she maintains a relationship with Ruth Anne. They have a very special bond that transcends the patient/OT relationship. We were  Therable to cheer on friends and give shout outs to the Spaulding Race for Rehab Team. Tom followed Erin on the map so we knew when she would be getting close to our spot. Ruth Anne spotted her halfway down the street screaming "Erin! Erin" jumping up and down with her sign. We knew she was struggling as many runners often do by the time they reach mile 23. She was walking but came over to give us high fives and a big smile. She took off running down Beacon Street to the finish. She told us later in an email that seeing us there gave her such a boost of energy. She knew what Ruth Anne has overcome in her marathon of healing and the critical role she played to help Ruth Anne regain her independence and quality of life. When she first worked with Erin in November of 2019, Ruth Anne couldn't stay awake throughout the day, manage her money or meds or perform simple activities. Ruth Anne worked so hard under Erin's guidance and it was a magical moment on Marathon Monday when Ruth Anne gave Erin the boost she needed to get through the last several miles of her lifelong dream to run the Boston Marathon!

We did not see our dear friend and supporter Kathy, but we did see Henry Richard. We didn't realize it was Henry until we saw the Boston Marathon stories on the news but cheered loudly for the MR8 singlet he wore as he ran by. He fist pumped the air and smiled to acknowledge our cheers.

One of the spectators next to us asked if we had seen Adriane Haslet and Shalane Flanagan come by. We weren't aware they were running! We tracked them and somehow missed them (they may have been running in the middle of the pack) but what a moment of redemption for Adriane after she crossed that finish line as expressed in this CBS News Story.

Today is the 13th anniversary of when Team McManus ran the 113th Boston Marathon. 

There are always so many inspiring stories that embody the Spirit of the Marathon. After 1,099 days, the running of the Boston Marathon itself symbolized endurance, resilience, strength, patience, pacing and the ability to keep going the distance despite the challenges and heartbreak that arise. 

From my heart to yours,
In health and wellness,
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at https://marymcmanus.com to learn about my journey to health and wellness in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma

Visit the News and Events tab to listen to my inspiring and uplifting interviews

My books to motivate, uplift and inspire you are available on Amazon

Standing Tall

 

The diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December of 2006 was a wake up call for me. My mind, body and soul were crying out for healing from the effects of childhood trauma and paralytic polio. I discovered the gift of poetry in my soul, took a leap of faith 15 years ago leaving my award winning social work career and went off to heal my life.

Only at the time, I had no idea what that meant.

I went on to run the 2009 Boston Marathon, had many adventures as runnergirl1953 (the year I was born) and healed and transformed my life from social worker to runner, motivational speaker, poet and author. 

I wrote Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems to Heal Your Life and my Trilogy of Transformation not intending to write another book until the Pandemic happened two years ago. Hope is a Garden: Poems and Essays From the 2020 Pandemic was borne out of quarantine and a chaotic time in our history.

Running, meditation and being a a part of Dr. David Hamilton's Personal Development Club along with continuing to write poems and essays helped me to focus on hope, optimism, faith, continued healing and growth.

In last week's Personal Development Club, David gave us a booster shot of exercises to improve self-esteem and self-love. We are all experiencing pandemic weariness and that weariness can take a toll on one's capacity to stand tall as Divine Beings. It was exactly what I needed as we continue to emerge from the pandemic and return to experiencing our place in a world very different than the world we lived in before March of 2020. Harnessing the power of the mind/body connection which is bi-directional, David gave us exercises and a meditation/visualization to boost confidence. He referenced Amy Cuddy's TED Talk about body language and his book I Heart Me available on Amazon.

I've been practicing my meditations/visualizations to embody strength and confidence and release fear and anxiety reminding myself how worthy I am to receive life's blessings. This poem was borne out of that time of visualization/meditation using the phrase that flowed through David during our session, "plant your feet in the soil of self-esteem":

Standing Tall

Feel the vibration of love
quaking in fear no more
tears water the garden of my soul
washing away past
planting feet in soil of self esteem.
Roots deep
firm in faith
though winds may blow
I bend with ease and grace
I know my place as Divine
radiant Being.
Speaking my Truths
live and let live
others may turn a blind eye
no matter
weeding worries of acceptance
bury seeds of judgement resentment
forgiveness.
Worthy to receive
joy in giving
Essence of who I am
essential to feeling free
a shift
from withering wall flower
unwavering
bathing in Truth of my existence
expecting miracles
I blossom and grow. 

As one who experienced severe abuse as a child after contracting paralytic polio, there are times when I need a booster shot of self-love especially during these unprecedented times.

Harnessing the power of the mind/body connection, I re-ignite my fiery Spirit standing tall to share my gifts and my powerful messages; soul lessons learned through my life experiences as a thriver and champion.

From my heart to yours,
In health and wellness,
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at https://marymcmanus.com to learn about my journey to health and wellness in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma

Visit the News and Events tab to listen to my inspiring and uplifting interviews

My books to motivate, uplift and inspire you are available on Amazon

Happy National Poetry Month: Where it all began!

 

From "Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems to Heal Your Life" available on Amazon

It was a cold, dark day in February 2007. I sat in a leg brace, using a wheelchair at times for mobility. I faced a grim and uncertain future as the doctors handed down the decree of the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease. They told me that if I had any hope of stabilizing the disease where it was, I would have to quit my full time award-winning career as a VA social worker three years shy of when I was eligible for retirement. It was a no-brainer. I knew I had to take a leap of faith and leave my career. But what’s a social worker to do after almost 25 years? She opens her heart to the cadence of Dr. Seuss that brought her so much comfort during the painful physical therapy sessions as she recovered from paralytic polio. This is the first poem I penned. Bear in mind, I had never run a day in my life.

 

Running the Race   

 

Early summer 1959 my kindergarten year

everyone around me filled with nervous fear.

Despite the Salk vaccine hope polio would disappear

the polio virus crept right up and knocked me in the rear.

 

Dancing all around the gym feeling free just like a bird

I dropped to the ground just like a stone and no one said a word.

The pain it was so searing-the diagnosis even worse

"It's polio" the doctor said...he was abrupt and terse.

 

Called one of the 'lucky ones' I had a 'mild case'

but with the other athletes I could never keep their pace.

Miss Holly physical therapist, curly hair and a warm, broad smile

it tempered the pain of being apart - to walk I'd take awhile.

 

I always wore those 'special' shoes the kids they poked and teased                                                     

with no support and much abuse with childhood I wasn’t pleased.                                                      

But put nose to the grindstone and learned all that I could

I couldn't kick a ball but my grades were always good.

 

Years went by and no more thought to polio did I give

I accepted the limp, everything else and decided my life I would live.

But symptoms of weakness and muscle pain did grow

I kept a stoic face hoping no one else would know.

 

Life no longer was my own I struggled through each day

suffered in silence, alone and afraid tried to keep depression at bay.

And with the grace of glorious God my world it opened wide

I discovered there was a Post Polio team and they were on my side.                                           

 

Sought out paths for healing and my spirit flew free

for the first time in life, I could truly be me.

The chains are gone and possibilities abound

I'm a tree with my roots planted firmly in ground.

 

Using wheelchair to travel, set limits on what I could do

resulted in joy to realize I could live life anew.

Celebrated my body-creaks, groans and need for a brace

while in my mind I focused on winning a 10K race. Poet

 

I'm now off the sidelines, no need to sit and whine

so much gratitude fills my heart and love and beauty shine.

After all these years I can join the loving human race

I exceed all expectations and now I set the pace.

 

After writing that poem, I realized I was at a crossroads in my life. I opened my heart to gratitude and forgiveness to heal the childhood trauma and visualized a future very different than the one the doctors predicted for me. Poems flowed out of my heart and soul as though a spigot had been turned on. When I went to the Newburyport Literary Festival in April of 2007 after deciding to pursue my newfound passion as a writer and poet, I shared my story with anyone and everyone who would listen about my journey. The critically acclaimed writer Peter Guralnick took time to give me tips about getting my material published. The literary critic who interviewed Peter at one of the workshops said to me, "You're channeling poetry aren't you? How cool!"

 

It's been an incredibly cool 15 year journey since that first poem flowed out of me. My little business, 'New World Greeting Cards - Original Poetry for Every Occasion' didn't quite take off as I had initially thought it would. I continue to create original poems for milestone birthdays, anniversaries or other celebrations for family and friends. The Universe had plans for me other than becoming a successful business woman. I've become a motivational speaker and share a powerful message of healing, hope and possibilities reminding people, especially women, that they are not their diagnosis. My poetry has touched so many hearts, especially those poems from "Hope is a Garden: Poems and Essays From the 2020 Pandemic."

 

The poetry from Hope is a Garden is now available as an audio book with all proceeds being donated to Voices of Hope Boston who forward the proceeds to the Henri and Belinda Termeer Cancer Center for Targeted Therapies at Mass. General Hospital. Read Out for a Cure is now available for download with a $10 payment to me via Paypal at maryamcmanus@gmail.com or Venmo @Mary-McManus-21.

 

After writing "Running the Race", I discovered the healing power of writing poetry along with the feeling of unbridled joy and exhilaration that accompanies the creative process. After running the 2009 Boston Marathon, and experiencing adventures as a runnergirl, I wrote my Trilogy of Transformation. In March of 2020 when I realized that I was living through another pandemic, I turned once again to my pen, what I call my Divining Rod for healing and the flow of poetry continues as I edit, "Into the Light: Emerging from the 2020 Pandemic."

 

I'll share with you a 'sneak peek' to celebrate National Poetry Month:

 

Can You Feel It?

 

Stepping outside my door

I feel it

anticipation of Spring

transported without plane, train or boat

breathing deeply

an elixir from earth ready to give birth

heart flutters with hope.

Infinite possibilities

emerge from winter's womb

ultimate faith seeing the unseen

confidence of beauty unfolding

doubt yields to faith

barren trees poised to pop

sun's warmth enticing transformation.

Eager to shed

letting go

Spring's renewal

enters soul

eternally grateful

it happens every year.

 

From my heart to yours,
In health and wellness,

Mary

Be sure to visit my website at https://marymcmanus.com to learn about my journey to health and wellness in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma

Visit the News and Events tab to listen to my inspiring and uplifting interviews

My books to motivate, uplift and inspire you are available on Amazon