Serenity with the Swans

Ruth Anne's recovery from PANDAS is a long and winding road that requires love, patience, grace, grit and determination. Last week was quite challenging but as the sun returns after a storm, peace descended and Ruth Anne was back on her healing path.

On Wednesday we wrapped up our week of training and ditched a tempo run for an easy 5K.

I could feel the tension release as we savored the sights and sounds of the Reservoir. We made sure to take deep breaths and immerse ourselves in the healing power of nature.

Ducks, geese and swans were out in full force. I found myself hypnotized by their movements and the movement of the water as it ebbed and flowed against the shore and as it met the frozen parts of the Reservoir.

I remarked to Ruth Anne, "I call this run serenity with the swans."

Coincidentally, I am reading the book, 'Heal' based on the ground breaking Documentary. After the serenity with the swans run, I came across the passages about the healing power of nature. p. 141

"When we recognize the virtues, the talent, the beauty of Mother Earth, something is born in us, some kind of connection----love is born." ~Thich Nhat Hanh

"Our brains are hardwired to react positively to water...being near it can calm and connect us, increase innovation and insight, and even heal what's broken."

What I love most about the healing power of nature is that they are absolutely free and address the mind, body and spirit all in one visit. Take advantage of the generosity of Mother Earth and soak up her powerful healing gifts as much as you can each day."



We paused to watch the swans mate and they formed a heart with their necks; a reminder to experience the Love that always surrounds.

After a challenging week or so, we were blessed with relatively mild weather for February in Boston and were blessed to experience serenity with the swans.

To healing, hope and possibility!
To your health and wellness!

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

Be inspired by my interview with Kendra Petrone on the award winning Exceptional Women Show by following this link

To experience an epic race weekend and hear me share my journey from a wheelchair to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond come to the Hyannis Marathon Weekend February 21-23 2020.

TGFR - Thank God For Running

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The weather gods were kind to us on Monday morning. Despite what seems like never ending days of rain (although Saturday there was one day of sunshine) and cold weather, there was no rain. Despite the chill in the air, I refused to wear long running pants one more day and donned my capris. I did, however, wear a long sleeve shirt and a pullover running top.

We did a core work up before heading out the door. We wanted to switch up our running route and were planning on a run around the small Reservoir on Route 9. As we ran down the hill to the Reservoir there was fencing and what seemed like an obstacle course of metal plates on the sidewalk to hold the fence in place. The entrance to the Reservoir was closed and we tried to find another entrance but it was fenced off all the way around with the buzzing of saws and the sight of heavy machinery.

"What should we do now?" I asked Tom.

We were looking forward to a flat run after Saturday's Heartbreak Hill run but it was not meant to be.

We opted to go straight down Lee Street toward the Brookline Country Club which is notorious for its rolling hills.

Since we had added on to our mileage at the beginning of our run as we do when we are running twice around the Reservoir to get to a 5K, we knew we'd have to guesstimate our mileage with Nike+. I suggested we take the road that the Country Club is on which is relatively flat. We were treated to a beautiful retreat in nature:


There wasn't a car on the road.

We took deep breaths and drank in the beauty and serenity that surrounded us.

On Sunday night, we received a call from the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital ER about our daughter. Three months to the date from when she was discharged from her last hospitalization (which was her 7th in a year!) she presented to the ER again. Fortunately it wasn't life threatening at that moment but the stress of 5 years of bearing witness to our daughter's functional decline as a result of severe psychiatric illness, is incredibly wearing. We are learning how to be better at caring for ourselves as I wrote about in Mental Health Awareness Month: Caring for the Caregiver.

We used the time on our run, unplugged, to debrief and express our feelings about what is happening with our daughter. We also celebrated our son who is taking over a store, "The Berry Patch" in Stephentown New York with his partner Michelle and continuing to create success and abundance in his life. We celebrated the strength of our marriage having weathered the storms with our daughter that, at times, could have easily caused a breakdown and break up.

It's always an awesome experience to feel a chill in the air and sweat in the small of my back.

By the time the run was over, we'd left the stress of Sunday's crisis out on the road and were ready to begin a new day and a new week.

As I savored my simple yet oh so delicious breakfast, I took a deep sigh of gratitude and said out loud, "Thank God For Running!"

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.