When Source is the Source

If you pay attention to the news these days, there is a lot to fear and so much uncertainty. After contracting paralytic polio at the age of 5 followed by years of enduring abuse at the hands of family members and after the diagnosis of Post Polio Syndrome at the age of 53, I connected to Source to guide me through. I continue to remind myself to go above and beyond anything happening in physical reality and focus on gratitude, love, joy, peace, hope, healing and possibilities.

One of the ways I discovered of connecting to Source and tapping into healing, hope and possibilities is through the power of my pen; my divining rod for healing. Shortly after the diagnosis of Post Polio Syndrome, poetry flowed out of me. I healed a tumultuous past through forgiveness and created a future very different from the one the doctors predicted for me.

In mid-March I opened my heart to the Divine and started writing poetry again. Rather than seeking news of the physical reality as portrayed by the media, I sought out seeing Source all around me.

Source from the soon to be released Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems to Heal Your Life Volume 2

Whenever doubts prevail
look to the sky
sunrise or sunset
in the clouds angels smile
a canvas to send Divine messages.

Sorcerer of all
weaving a tapestry of magic, mystery and wonder
a wave of peace washes over
with broad brush strokes
signs from Master Artist.

My heart overflows
gratitude and blessings
withdraw from chaos or messages of fear
Source pours through every cell
when Source is the Source all things are possible!

On our early Monday morning run, we captured these scenes and signs from Source:


We have been dining outside in our yard and watching the sunsets. I've been captivated by what I have captured:


There have been angels, faces and incredible displays of light.

Given the high heat and humidity, we got up at 6:15am on Wednesday to head out on our run. After meditation, we were treated to these spectacular scenes that we paused to capture:


While contracting paralytic polio and enduring years of abuse and then receiving the diagnosis of Post Polio Syndrome, were the greatest challenges in my life, they also presented me with the greatest gift. I found my way to Source and keep coming home to Source through my running, my meditation and my poetry. For when Source is the Source, all is healed, and all things are possible despite appearances to the contrary!

Be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com to be inspired by my journey of overcoming adversity and healing my life mind, body and soul through the power of the mind/body connection and connection to Source.

My books are available on Amazon.

From my heart to yours
In health and well being
Mary

Stopping On A Dime!

Wednesday morning runs are my favorite runs especially when I get to run with the entire complement of Team McManus. t It's the last workout of a 5 day training cycle. I feel an impending sense of accomplishment and dedication to my health and fitness. In the summer, it's a day to celebrate being able to go outside with just a top (usually tank top) and shorts. It's also the day when we get up early and have breakfast in the yard after the run.

We ran down Eliot Street to make sure we had enough miles to meet my goal of 3.25 miles that would take me closer to my monthly goal of 40+ miles. After Wednesday's run I am at 35.17 miles thanks to an extra 5K for the Virtual Falmouth Education 5K Run last weekend but I digress...

As we were passing our house heading to the Reservoir after debating whether we should run the small or large Reservoir, Tom stopped on a dime.

"Wait. Here's a dime..."


The year was 1989, two years after the birth of our twins.

The day was cloudy but there is always beauty to behold at the newly renovated Route 9 Reservoir:


And we always remind ourselves to Run Happy:


Finding money on a run is a joyful reminder of our connection to Source. We used to find money all the time when we trained for the Boston Marathon; signs from the Divine that I was going to go the distance in fund raising and 26.2 miles after having been told in December of 2006 to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair due to the late effects of paralytic polio as a child.

Finding dimes has a particular significance for me as a polio survivor.

In 1926, Roosevelt started the non-profit Georgia Warm Springs Foundation on the site of the springs he visited to partake of the waters’ therapeutic effects. Twelve years later, he reinvented the charity as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP). The NFIP was a non-partisan association of health scientists and volunteers that helped fund research for a polio vaccine and assisted victims on the long path through physical rehabilitation. Funded originally through the generosity of wealthy celebrities at yearly President’s Birthday Balls, the foundation could not raise money fast enough to keep pace with polio’s continued toll on America’s children and, during the Depression, the polio epidemic worsened. In 1938, Roosevelt decided to appeal to the general public for help. At one fundraiser, celebrity singer Eddie Cantor jokingly urged the public to send dimes to the president, coining the term March of Dimes. The public took his appeal seriously, flooding the White House with 2,680,000 dimes and thousands of dollars in donations.

I am still in awe of my journey of transformation that you can learn about on my website at www.marymcmanus.com It's been 13 years since I took a leap of faith to leave my award winning career as a VA social worker to "heal my life." I dedicate five days a week to exercise and 7 days a week to emotional and spiritual well being with meditation, writing in a journal, writing poetry and having an attitude of gratitude.

I allow Spirit to guide me on this path and feel especially blessed when we stop on a dime to receive a sign on a wonderful winning Wednesday morning run.

My books that chronicle my journey of transformation and my book of inspirational poetry are available on Amazon.

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness
To healing, hope and possibilities
Mary

"See ya next week!"

My Weather App said it was 9 degrees outside with an expected high in the 20's. The sun was shining.

Tom and Ruth Anne will be running next Sunday's Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K and we debated back and forth about whether or not to postpone our run to Sunday when the temperatures promised to be more temperate.

We were ready to take out our strength training gear for a home gym workout when Ruth Anne said, "Wait! I think we should get out there today."

Her Occupational Therapist, Erin Foley, is running the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab. We are members of the Race for Rehab Alumni Class of 2009 and follow them on Facebook and via email. Erin's parting words to us after Ruth Anne's treatment on Friday was, "I hope I see you guys out there tomorrow." We had seen her two weeks ago on the Hills along with swarms of members of the 2020 Race for Rehab Team.

We love the energy on Heartbreak Hill on Saturdays during the peak of Boston Marathon training and feel buoyed after we get out and do our miles.

We opened our front door and were blasted by the frosty air but decided to layer up and get in our four miles.

There were fewer runners out yesterday presumably because of the frigid temperatures.

"Hey hey," Dominic shouted out as he was about to pass on our left side.

We weren't sure if he wanted to stop but he pulled up next to us and we exchanged warm hugs. We talked about Hyannis, how he was 11 miles into his 18 mile training run and took this selfie:


After another hug we said, "See ya next week!"

Shortly after we passed Dominic, we saw Michelle approaching us on our right.

She waved and said, "See ya next week!"

Here's what she had to say about yesterday's run on Heartbreak Hill:
Who is that masked runner? I think the hardest part of today was getting out of my toasty car 😂🥶. By 1.5 miles I really didn’t notice the cold. Gloves and gaiter were off and I felt comfortable. Of course I had four top layers, two bottom layers, ear warmers and hat to help!

Marathon Training with the Heartbreakers put on another great day, with Coach Dan giving great tips on how to approach the hills, at this point in our training. It really helped me mentally power through them, even if my body is still trying to figure out how to do that 🤣

There were definitely less people out there today, but still a decent showing. Nice to see Troy Brogan at the start, and Mary McManus and Tom McManus weren’t deterred by the cold either.

10 miles for week 10 of 20! Halfway to Boston! 😬 And Hyannis Half Marathon, is next weekend 🎉

https://www.crowdrise.com/…/bidmc-boston2…/michellecorrado1…

Boston Marathon #marathontraining #marathon Fit In New England E-motion Massage & Healing #justhaveacannoli



Michelle is running Boston to raise money for the BIDMC Cancer Care Center.

We stopped to appreciate the beauty on Heartbreak Hill that is present in every season and even noticed a hint of Spring despite the frigid temperatures:


A little further down the Hills before we reached our turnaround at 2 miles, we saw Erin!

We greeted her with warm broad smiles and cheers!

We talked about our excitement for Hyannis Weekend and how this year's Camp Hyannis is going to be an epic adventure for Team McManus as we celebrate Ruth Anne's recovery and healing and I get to share my inspirational journey with the campers runners in Hyannis.

We spotted Erin again in the distance and waved and cheered.

"One more mile to go," Erin breathlessly shouted.

"Woo hoo!" we all yelled, clapped and cheered.

Just before we got to Newton Center, Ruth Anne said, "Wait..look....here's a penny."

The date was 1977 .... Tom and I met on March 2, 1977!


We made a quick pit stop at Heartbreak Hill Running Company before the last half mile to our car. We had admired one woman's running hat out on the course and she was in the store along with about 30 Heartbreakers recovering from their long run. We chatted for a few minutes about her unique hat that she told us was made by Skida. She asked us how our run went; we explained we weren't training for Boston this year but just love the energy out on the Hills.

"Well I AM training for Boston and I live on the North Shore. My husband thinks I am crazy to drive in town but I just love the people I meet here and I hate to run alone."

We finished our run:


and refueled with soup, salads and sandwiches from the New England Soup Factory.

If we would have waited until today to do our run, we wouldn't have had those wonderful connections and experienced the added excitement for Camp Hyannis 2020.

Running has given us many things in our lives but the best thing is the people it has brought into our lives. I am still in awe and so blessed to be a part of this incredible community overflowing with love, kindness and generosity.

See you next week in Hyannis! Follow this link to register!

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

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours,
Mary

Hills, Thrills and Christmas Spirit in the Air

Winter running can be challenging in New England especially when we have snow/ice/thawing/snow/ice cycles of weather. Unless it is bitter bitter cold or the roads are too icy for safe running, we head outside to get our run on.

Saturday we did a Winter Solstice 5K in our neighborhood. After feeling frustrated by where we could safely run, I was inspired to suggest a neighborhood run and to focus on the holiday decorations that we usually don't take the time to enjoy as we drive by quickly in our car.

As we ran by the hill we trained on for the Boston Marathon 2009, we reminisced about doing hill repeats with our personal trainer. Ruth Anne suggested we tackle the hill for old times sake...and we did ... twice!

Our cheeks were nice and rosy and we savored the experience of our neighborhood run reminiscing all the way.


We took our selfie at the base of the hill:


Yesterday we headed to Heartbreak Hill where Tom and Ruth Anne are starting their training for the Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K and I'm rocking my 5K distance.

As they took off for their 5 mile run, I embraced the warm sun and the cool air giving thanks for every step I am able to take. It's hard to believe that 13 years ago I was given the diagnosis of a progressive neuromuscular disease and told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair.

I have run the 2009 Boston Marathon, many 5 and 10K's and several half marathons. I am content with a 5K distance for now.

As part of me wished that I could keep pace with Ruth Anne and Tom....that's only human, the Divine sent me signs.

Tom had locked himself out of his iPhone so I was responsible for taking the photos on this run.

I love how the sun shines through the trees on Heartbreak Hill in winter.

I captured the shape of a dove through the trees and this amazing orb:


Shortly after capturing these photos, I was heading back to the car, I stopped for water. My gaze was drawn upward where I saw this angel:


It dissipated by the end of my water break!

In the distance I heard carolers. They were standing in front of a beautiful home on the other side of Comm Ave. After they finished I stopped and clapped for them.

They came off the steps of the house standing in formation singing an amazing rendition of Jingle Bells. After finishing their song they shouted out Happy Holidays and waved.

I was brought to hears and clapped for them letting them know they made my day! They went on to the next house to bring Christmas joy as I realized all I experience when I run at my pace.

I finished my run, stretched, hydrated and waited for the return of Tom and Ruth Anne feeling that delicious feeling that one feels after a great run.

We took our selfie:


heading home sweaty with full hearts and tired muscles.

Yesterday was my last run as a 65 year old.

Tomorrow I will head out for my 66 minute birthday run...

It's been a year filled with challenges, pain and suffering until August when we were finally able to get a diagnosis for Ruth Anne along with proper treatment for an auto immune condition that caused brain inflammation with its concomitant challenges.

As they say in Sweet Charity, it's not where you start, it's where you finish!

I ended my 65th year with hills, thrills and feeling Christmas Spirit in the air ready to embrace a new year of living, loving and sharing my inspirational journey!

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness
Mary

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.

On Signs, Synchronicity and a Morning Run in the Rain

When the 5:45am alarm goes off in the middle of October and it's dark and raining outside, it doesn't inspire one to get up and go out for a run. I know how every step is a gift and every mile is a blessing as a survivor of paralytic polio and having been told 12 years ago I should prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome.

After our 20 minute meditation, Team McManus got dressed and headed to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir.

It had been a brutal several days with Ruth Anne's healing and recovery journey with PANS/PANDAS, an autoimmune condition that is a result of the immune system attacking the brain instead of a virus or bacterial infection and manifests with neuropsychiatric symptoms. We were all feeling depleted and drained but as always remaining positive and hopeful.

As we approached the Reservoir, Ruth Anne said, "Look a rainbow"


My heart filled with gratitude.

As we crossed the street, runners were taking videos and photos while we smiled at one another.

The rainbow continued to shine:


We were treated to these sensational scenes as we ran through periods of intermittent rain:




We felt cleansed, refreshed and renewed dedicated to moving forward:


After picking Tom up from work on Tuesday evening, we decided that we would pick up a few sides to go with our dinner, get our lottery ticket and stop at the bank. There were no sides at Star Market, the line for the lottery was extremely long and not moving because someone was cashing a check and we decided to completely abort the mission.

Tom usually takes a left out of the parking lot at Star Market but for "some reason" he took a right turn.

While we were waiting at the stop light Ruth Anne said, "Look...it's #lacostestrong referencing the sticker on the back of the car in front of us in the next lane:


Kevin LaCoste is a beloved member of Team Big Heart and the Westford Community and he suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury this summer. Part of the fundraising and spirit raising efforts has been stickers, tattoos, t-shirts along with a GoFundMe page and various fundraisers around town. You can read about Kevin and Ali's journey in my blog. I posted it on Facebook and immediately got a response that it was a friend of one of Kevin's family members.

After I shared our story of having arrived at that moment quite by accident, she said:
I love it! I also normally go a different route on my way home from MAA but I just felt like taking Hammond st today instead of Hammond pond parkway. Not sure why but now I know.



We had experienced a rough and tumble several days as can often happen with PANS/PANDAS and life in general but were reminded that the Divine is ever present in our lives.

A rainbow - a cleansing run in the rain and an amazing moment of synchronicity to end the day ... all is well when we have faith and stay connected to the Source of all that is!

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
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 "Feel the Heal" and "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953" are available in Natick Center Cultural District at Paula Romero Dunbar's Celebration Boutique Paper Fiesta coincidentally located on Mile 10 of the Boston Marathon Route.