Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Oatmeal Never Tasted So Good....

It is Spring in Boston. I saw my first forsythia today on my morning run and one of my favorite trees is beginning to bloom. And I am back on the road again - so to speak - as I train to run for the Harvard Pilgrim 10K on July 4th. So why is training for a 10K a big deal? After all, I ran the Boston Marathon last year. Well, those of you who have been following my blog may recall that after running the marathon I hit the proverbial wall. Only my wall came in the form of cervical spine disease and also a resurgence of post polio symptoms. But with backing off from an intense strength training program, getting trigger injections and another course of physical therapy and with an overhaul of my training program, I am able to run again.

I was having a breakfast of oatmeal, toast, juice and water and waiting two hours before doing my cardio work outs. I remembered that we used to only have a piece of toast, juice and water and then go on our short training runs, eating after we ran. So today I decided to implement a tried and true routine. It worked! I felt less lethargic and the time seemed to fly by. I ran 2.4 miles with a looooong hill on the way back and am able to do under a 17 minute mile. I just need to do a 20 minute mile for the Harvard Pilgrim 10K because it is a walk/run. And along the way, as I mentioned above, I saw the first forsythia blooming as well as one of my favorite trees in full bloom. When I came home and ate my oatmeal I savored every bite and let me tell you....oatmeal never tasted so good!

I am reconnecting with what my body needs and what works to keep it functioning at its best. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to run again - and this time I've shed so many of the worries like being left behind, finishing last and it is so liberating. I can feel the joy and freedom in my body despite the aches and pains. I minister to it with stretching and strengthening, cervical traction and a foam roller and I focus on all that is magnificent about this journey.

I feel rebirth and renewal this Spring. I am so blessed to be a part of the Twist Family radio, The Fabulous Ones , Lifelong Happiness website which is going to launch in April, (the founder is Ricky Powell, child actor and executive at NBC), all the wonderful guests I have met through City Enlightenment, and Its All About You, launching my 2nd book on The Jordan Rich Show and also establishing a new and exciting connection with The Salk Institute

I am so grateful, so blessed and savoring each moment, and noticing how oatmeal never tasted so good.

Give yourself the gift of inspiration by purchasing my book, "New World Greetings:Inspirational Poetry and Musings for a New World."

The spring and summer is a time for so many special occasions. Why buy a card that comes close to what you want to say? Let New World Greeting Cards create an original poem that lives and breathes what YOU want to say.

Be sure to visit Friends of New World Greeting Cards and check out the wonderful people and products on the page. To stay up to date with what is happening, be sure to visit the News and Events page.

Thank you for reading
God bless, be well & make every moment count
With love,
Mary

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Whenever I Feel Afraid...

As we get closer to Marathon Monday and the one year anniversary of Team McManus' running of the Boston Marathon, I thought I'd write a post about overcoming fear and summoning courage.

F E A R = false evidence appearing real

Fear - a block to steppin' out and going for our dreams. As my friend, Inez Bracy of "Over Fifty, Fine and Fancy" told me recently, we can learn fear and it can short circuit our actions. Our parents teach us how to be safe - don't touch the hot stove or you will get burned. But wanting to be safe can result in what Ricky Powell refers to on his Masterminds of Happiness community as a state of "contraction". When we view the world as a hot stove, it can short circuit our sense of happiness and well being.

I've known fear and I've known terror. I have transformed those beliefs with the power of God's Love. I am blessed to be surrounded by so many loving and supportive people. I know that I attracted them into my life because I peeled away the layer of fear and unveiled who I really am & meant to be. I summoned courage into my life.

Without courage, I never could have run 26.2 miles. Without courage, I never could have left my full time job to heal my life. Without courage, I would have missed out on so much of living and life. As a polio survivor, I was taught a lot of fear -- fear of falling and breaking a bone because it would be a complicated healing process, fear of testing my body's capabilities and fear to embrace winter because of cold intolerance. But in the winter of 2009, I wrote the poem

Courage - January 5, 2009

The fear of ice and snow and slush embedded in my soul
A training run in winter - the path to Being whole.
A winter scene - Jamaica Pond - a feast for eyes' delight
To witness nature's splendor and behold this glorious sight.

A leaf - a tiny dancer - skating free without a sound
God's breath directs her movements, as She guides her twirling 'round.

Families of ducks decide to walk or take a dip
A comedy of errors into icy water slip.

The branches now bejeweled with ice bend with loving Grace
Sparkling diamonds' anchor water's surface hold in place.

God's hand a glove of glistening snow hugs rocks along the wall
Their heads peek out reminding me I'm answering God's call.

A scene I'd never witness if I let my fear take hold
Courage triumphed, steppin' out with footsteps sure and bold.

Knowing that the pain subsides and Spirit can prevail
The Marathon is beckoning - through those miles I shall sail.

And if you need a little boost of courage do what Rodgers and Hammerstein recommend - Whistle a Happy Tune Go ahead and sing along --

For more inspiration, purchase a copy of my book "New World Greetings". Remember I donate 20% to Spaulding Rehab's International Rehab Center for Polio.

With all these wonderful events happening this Spring, why purchase a card that comes close to what you want to say. At New World Greeting Cards we create an original poem that breathes life into the words you want to say.

Be sure to check out the exciting News and Events page.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

End Polio Now! - What? I thought we already did....



When I say polio, you say.... Oh yeah, FDR had polio didn't he? Polio - that doesn't exist anymore. When I think of polio, I think of Tiny Tim and Charles Dickens. Don't worry, you are not alone. These are the kinds of responses I get when I tell people I am a polio survivor. Thank God that polio is a thing of the past here in the United States. But did you know that polio is only a plane ride away? It still exists in India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.

Did you know that Desmond Tutu is a polio survivor, Alan Alda, Francis Ford Coppola, Mia Farrow, Olympic Gold Medalist Wilma Rudolph, Itzhak Perlman, Jack Nicklaus, Donald Sutherland, Joni Mitchell, Lionel Barrymore and Gwen Verdon just to name a few. Rotary International is feverishly working to go the "Final Inch" to eradicate polio world wide. And you can help. One dose of the vaccine costs only $.60. Any donation will help in the Rotary $200 Million Dollar Challenge made when Bill and Melinda Gates donated $300 million to end polio now. Melinda's aunt was affected by polio.

No child should ever experience the devastating effects of this disease (or any adult for that matter). And as polio survivors age, they are vulnerable to post polio syndrome. Fortunately, physicians are aware of post polio syndrome. The social security administration grants social security disability benefits to those diagnosed with post polio syndrome. There are wonderful resources through Post Polio Health International and Polio Today and through Post Polio Clinics throughout the United States. Right here in Massachusetts we have the Spaulding Rehab International Rehab Center for Polio where I took the first steps on my healing journey. I speak at Rotary Clubs to inspire them to donate to the End Polio Now campaign and to work together to create a polio free world.

My dream is that Oprah & Ellen do a show about the End Polio Now campaign. They have famous and inspirational polio survivors on the show and we join forces to go The Final Inch! The photo above is from Rotary International's End Polio Now newsletter. The East Side of the Wrigley Building in Chicago is illuminated with a red End Polio Now logo -- Oprah I hope you are listening! Ellen - let's dance so that others can dance!

You can read all about the exciting News and Events I would love to share with you. Join us on Blog Talk Radio shows for inspiration and enlightenment, read about my journey with polio and post polio syndrome and listen to past interviews.

Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. Enjoy the inspiration of "New World Greetings: Inspirational Poetry and Musings for a New World." and refresh your mind and your spirit. Experience the joyful spirit of giving; I donate 20% of my book proceeds to Spaulding Rehab's International Rehab Center for Polio.

Why choose a card that comes close to what you want to say - why not send a card that says exactly what you want to say. At New World Greeting Cards we add in the missing ingredient - YOU! So reach in and reach out to someone you love with an original poem from New World Greeting Cards.

You can follow me on twitter @gracefullady and be sure to check out the amazing people I follow - among them @kateloving @inspirationwire @pr4god @loveandwater @trappersherwood @moonvine @reallynotarunnr @mr2020 @kruser1025 @inezbracy @slimmy38 @earthfire @amanda4gavi @rotary @endpolionow @poliotoday -- just to name a few!

Happy Spring everyone
Thanks for reading,
Mary

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Are You Star Struck - With Yourself?

Yes - you read that right - with all the talk of the Oscars and the stars coming out, I was wondering, are we each in touch with our own star power? I will admit that growing up (and that includes up until just recently) I was awe struck and star struck when I saw a 'famous person'. There was a sense of I'm not among them. Our culture perpetuates this myth - the notion - I am not good enough to be interacting with them. (I noted how I had grown in the past year to feel comfortable sitting with Olympic Gold Medalist Frank Shorter and Boston Marathon champion Bill Rodgers at the Hyannis Race Expo). Growing up as a polio survivor, I held the mistaken belief that I was not good enough; I was deformed, different, an outcast. No one wanted me on their team. So I burned myself out trying to prove myself.

Now I celebrate myself! Last year we held a benefit concert for Team McManus. The incredible a cappela group Ball In The House performed. Before they sang "Shining Star", Aaron Loveland, the lead singer said they were dedicating the song to me. I never had anyone sing a song to me before and he tweaked the lyrics to celebrate me. I give myself the Oscar for living the best life I know how to live. I am open to opportunity and possibility and believe in myself as a child of God. In the morning, I look in the mirror and look straight into my eyes and say, "you are a child of God and you are beautiful." I ask God how and who I may serve this day. Some days I know I get it right; some days I fall short; some days I indulge in gossip and judgment; most days I reach for light and love and work to keep my thinking in alignment with God.

I am so blessed and grateful for the opportunities that are opening before me. Every day is a day overflowing with possibility and promise which allows me to live my highest purpose - to inspire others with my journey, to share the spiritual wisdom I am learning along my journey and to do my part to join with others as part of the collective consciousness. When I hear that my words have touched another's heart or that my journey has given someone hope, I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to share my talents and gifts to bless others. And I am blessed by the presence of so many who give from their hearts and reach out in joy and love, to celebrate life and to be in the marvellous flow of giving and receiving.

What song are you going to dedicate to yourself? In what categories do you deserve to win the Oscar? Be star struck with who you are - a radiant child of God.

You can read all about the exciting News and Events I would love to share with you. Join us on Blog Talk Radio shows for inspiration and enlightenment, read about my journey with polio and post polio syndrome and listen to past interviews.

Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. Enjoy the inspiration of "New World Greetings: Inspirational Poetry and Musings for a New World." and refresh your mind and your spirit. Experience the joyful spirit of giving; I donate 20% of my book proceeds to Spaulding Rehab's International Rehab Center for Polio.

Why choose a card that comes close to what you want to say - why not send a card that says exactly what you want to say. At New World Greeting Cards we add in the missing ingredient - YOU! So reach in and reach out to someone you love with an original poem from New World Greeting Cards.

You can follow me on twitter @gracefullady and be sure to check out the amazing people I follow - among them @kateloving @inspirationwire @pr4god @loveandwater @trappersherwood @moonvine @reallynotarunnr @mr2020 @kruser1025 @inezbracy @slimmy38 @earthfire @amanda4gavi @rotary @endpolionow @poliotoday -- just to name a few!

Happy Spring everyone
Thanks for reading,
Mary

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