All Clear

After the events of 4/15/13, we were ordered to shelter in place in the greater Boston area while law enforcement personnel tracked down and captured the person responsible for the bombings. We kept the TV on and while we had a group meditation on Facebook and kept taking deep breaths throughout the day, there was a sense of when will we be given the all clear to resume our lives.

We've lived through several major New England blizzards where we were told to stay home except for essential travel to allow crews to clear the roads. During the winter of 2014, we had snow storm after snow storm with no end in sight. We had ice dams and as water poured through ceilings and doors I was left to wonder, "When will this ever end?" Of course it did. Spring came and our homeowner's insurance took care of the repairs. We had a more energy efficient home with new paint and no more ice dams!

During the past 3 years, as our daughter endured multiple hospitalizations with no clear diagnosis or treatment plan I wondered, "When will this end? How will it end?" I had faith that sustained me throughout those times of dire crises and we all made it through to the other side.

I marvel at our resilience!

As we receive news of ever changing circumstances, there is a sense of "When will we receive the all clear?" As I experienced waves of anxiety, I watched a video by Dr. Joe Dispenza that you can watch by following this link and saw this post:

It seems so unnatural to make these types of choices in the midst of such conditions, but if we repeatedly succeed, in time we’ll transcend the norm—and we, too, become supernatural. And most important, by your being supernatural, you give others permission to do the same. Mirror neurons fire when we observe someone else performing an action. Our neurons mirror the neurons of that other person, as though we were performing the same action. For example, when you see a professional dancer dancing the salsa, you will dance the salsa better than you did before. If you watch Serena Williams hit a tennis ball, you will hit the ball better than you did before. If you observe someone leading a community with love and compassion, you’ll lead in your life in the same way. And if you witness someone self-healing from a disease by changing his or her thought processes, you’ll be more prone to do the same❤️

I called my dear friend and womanpreneur Paula Romero-Dunbar, owner of Paper Fiesta. We bought a gift card. I checked in with my hair stylist to see how he was doing and if he wanted me to prepay for my next visit with him. He was deeply touched by my reaching out to him and told me he was able to ride this out even though the salon is closed. We are checking in with friends and neighbors on Facebook and in real life. While we are mandated for social distancing, we are practicing emotional closeness, kindness and compassion!

Ruth Anne and I went on an almost 4 mile run today because the weather was glorious and focused on the blessings that surrounded us:


I only skim the headlines for the "breaking news" that comes into my inbox.

We take extra meditation breaks throughout the day and often pause to say at least 3 things were are grateful for.

While part of me feels the anxiety that comes with these chaotic, confusing and unprecedented times wondering when will the "All Clear" come, I realized that the All Clear is right now:

All Clear
When clarion calls and sounds all clear no need to sit and wait
time for healing transformation creating destiny and fate.
All clear and cleanse the heart and mind a voice to light the way
shine instead of whining the mandate of the day.
Tho panic fills the headlines let cooler heads prevail
adversity storms passing compass of kindness adjust our sail.
Imagination fired up dark clouds we now can clear
knowing deep within our soul there's nothing now to fear.
Light beckons in the clearing stand firm in Truths Divine
drowning out the din of dread love beams brightly shine.
All clear an inner peace takes hold deep breaths a wave of calm
emanates from faith and trust allowing healing balm.

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com

My books are available on Amazon

On Fresh Air, Sunlight and Running!

Intuitively I believe we all know what we need to heal. We've become a society highly dependent on traditional medicine. When I spoke at the Hyannis Marathon Weekend Pre-Race Pasta Dinner, Bill Rodgers commented how I was able to transform my life to be healthy after the wake up call of the diagnosis of Post Polio Syndrome. He went on to say that it's not easy and so many people are looking for a pill to cure us. He went on to say that if you watch TV, they are trying to sell you a prescription at every turn. He emphasized how it's hard work to maintain health and wellness but as runners, we sure know it's worth it.

During this time of intense stress and truly surreal and unprecedented times, I am deeply grateful for the gift of running in my life and the freedom to go outside savoring the sensational sights and sounds of Springtime in New England.

On Saturday we chose to go to Jamaica Pond for our run.


My heart flowed with gratitude to see so many people out and about experiencing fresh air, sunlight and exercise whether running, walking, pushing a stroller, riding a bike or a scooter.

This morning, Ruth Anne and I went on a 5K around our neighborhood. It was eerie to not see children out on the playground at the school or to not cross the street to greet our neighbors but such is the new normal for the next 3 weeks.

But what the experts call a "pandemic" cannot stop the sun from shining, the birds from singing or Spring from coming:


My dear friend Kelly posted this article on Facebook yesterday that states that 100 years ago, experts dealt with the influenza epidemic from 1918 with social distancing and quarantine. It was met with mixed results. Yet "a combination of fresh air and sunlight seems to have prevented deaths among patients; and infections among medical staff." You can read the full article here.

So while much of Massachusetts has been shut down and there is a surreal feeling to life along with being bombarded with messages of fear and doom, I'll be getting plenty of fresh air even when it may be raining, basking in the sunlight and the anticipation of Spring, practicing meditation and ways to find my calm, drinking lots of water and getting lots of exercise. And oh yes washing my hands!

Running Free

Each footstep is a blessing
every mile is a gift
fears and doubts doom and gloom
run free soul uplift.

Green buds barely visible
with keen eye delight my heart
harbinger of new beginning
Springtime soon to start.

Once shackled by a troubled past
no safe place was mine
the world became my playground
let love and beauty shine.

Freedom is our birthright
in every moment let it flow
let no man put asunder
what we need to breathe and grow.

Whatever may surround us
remember all is well
celebrate each moment
Divining Truth to tell.

Sunshine bathes the senses
breezes whisper "I Am Here"
running free the way to be
there's nothing now to fear.

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com

My books are available on Amazon

Exercise - Do It For You!

Before the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease {Here is a photo of me in December 2007 a year after the diagnosis}:


I was a stranger to exercise. My body was a stranger to me.

I had to dissociate mind from body in order to survive the ordeal of childhood paralytic polio and severe trauma at the hands of family members, but I paid a steep price for this adaptive way to cope.

Once the diagnosis was made, I went back into a leg brace only rather than the long metal leg brace I needed as a child, this was a toe up leg brace to give my left leg support to diminish the limp as I walked:


I was told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, adapt our Cape house or move to a Ranch.

I was also told that if I used it, I would lose it! Yes ... you read that right!

Fortunately, I was led to an earth angel of a physical therapist, Allison Lamarre-Poole who did not subscribe to that philosophy for the treatment of Post-Polio Syndrome.

From "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":
“I have your records from the Framingham clinic Mary but I am going to need to do an assessment that specifically focuses on your upper body,” Allison told me during our first appointment.

She had a warm smile. There was something compelling about her presence that let me know I was not destined to be on a course of a progressive illness. She inspired a desire to heal within me. As she massaged my cervical spine, her cool hands were in sharp contrast to the heat of the pain I experienced for the past 10 years. We moved through passive range of motion exercises. She wrapped an ice collar around my neck, and sat with me. She asked questions about how I was functioning in different areas of my life. She told me about adaptive equipment we could order to ease the stress on my already overtaxed muscles. After the session we set up 3 times a week therapy sessions.

“Take a deep breath and lift your hips,” Allison cued as I lay on the physical therapy table.

“Now slowly lower down vertebrae by vertebrae. I want you to really concentrate on making that connection to your spinal column. Can you feel it? Move slowly. How does it feel?”

I lost my connection to my body after collapsing from paralytic polio. I had to dissociate from my body to survive years of abuse and torture. It was a strange experience to reconnect with my body, yet one that I hungered for. I wanted to find my way home and Allison was my first tour guide as she provided the map I needed to reconnect with myself.

The first day I walked into the outpatient gym and saw all of the equipment and machines I thought to myself, “I’m going to be able to do this. I can get stronger. I know it’s not going to be easy. I know it’s going to take time and I have to be extremely patient with myself.”

I wanted to feel better and I wanted to feel whole. Three times a week we worked together using Pilates, isometrics, weight training and cardiovascular exercise to bring my body out of its withered state.

At my last session with her she said, "You're going to keep working at your rehab right? You don't ever want to go back to where you were do you?" I emphatically said, "NO!"

In October of 2007, I hired a personal trainer wondering if she could help me build on the home program Allison gave me. Her response was:


I couldn't even do the initial assessment with her but after working with her for 6 months, having decided that if I were going to experience pain, I'd prefer to feel pain on the side of recovery rather than the pain of decline, I passed the assessment and I was on a path to healing, health and wellness!

I went on to run the 2009 Boston Marathon and exercise became a way of life for me.


After running 3 consecutive Bermuda Half Marathons in 2016, 2017 and 2018, my health and fitness goals focused on recovery from the grueling rigors of training for an endurance event and to enjoy my workouts and running again.

Since January of 2018, I have consistently worked out or ran 5 days a week and had no goal races.

I ran a comeback race at The Becca Pizzi 5K and Kids Fun Run and will be running The Finish at the 50 5K in just a few weeks.

I am very excited to be doing a race where there is no time pressure yet I get to push myself to be the very best I can be on race day.

I must share with you that occasionally, not very often, I have to motivate myself to get my workout in, Yesterday was one of those days.

The alarm went off. I meditated and it took everything I had to clear the energy of stress anticipating our daughter's discharge from her 9th psychiatric hospitalization since January of 2018. I knew that once I started moving, cranking up my playlist and Tom and I encouraging each other as we worked out, I would begin to feel better.

I countered the thoughts of "I can skip one workout. It's no big deal." with knowing how important it is to be consistent loving myself enough to maintain my health and wellness regimen.

This morning I was energized after meditation eager to go to the BU FitRec Center to get in an early morning swim in their Recreation Pool.

Today, this article came into my inbox, "Ten Ways to Make Exercise a Daily Habit."

If you struggle with making exercise a regular part of your life or just need a boost of ideas to ensure that you stay on course for your exercise regimen, be sure to take a few moments to read it.

And please...make sure you take time to exercise ... do it for you!

From my heart to yours
In Health and Wellness,
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com

Hear my interview with Kendra Petrone on Magic 106.7's Exceptional Women Show by following this link

My books are available on Amazon and at Paper Fiesta in Natick on Mile 10 of the Boston Marathon route. Proceeds of book sales for May through July are going to Tom McManus's Falmouth Road Race run for the Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation. You can also make a direct donation by following this link.