One of my friend's posted on Facebook the moments which defined her life.
I usually don't click on those links to see what mine would be but something moved me to do so.
Somehow Facebook got it right!
A photo of Dr. Ryan Means and me that we took right before he left for China was part of the video.
Talk about a defining moment!
We stood face to face at the book launch party for Journey Well coincidentally at the practice where I had been seeing the former massage therapist I was working with and it was kismet in January of 2015. Dr. Ryan as he likes to be called is a chiropractor and healer. Even though he is half a world away I can feel the work we did together. He told me to set goals not limits and worked with care, compassion and passion to get me on my healing path to go the distance. He was the first healer to help me believe that I was worthy of healing.
I set the goal to run the 2016 Bermuda Half Marathon. What a defining shining moment it was to set the goal and then achieve it.
There were photos of my Boston Marathon run:
and taking on the Hyannis 10K 2016 after running the Bermuda Half:
Beautiful memories with friends at races and training runs with my bestie filled the screen with defining and special moments.
It was a defining moment for me, now almost 10 years ago, when I refused to accept the diagnosis of post polio syndrome and went on a healing odyssey, writing poetry, imagining, visualizing and manifesting what is in my life today. And to think it all began with the poem:
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 and 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, isolated from friends- trying 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.
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.
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.
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.
There are moments which mark your life. Moments when you realize nothing will ever be the same and time is divided into two parts, before this, and after this… Sometimes you can feel such a moment coming. That’s the test, or so I tell myself. I tell myself that at times like that, strong people keep moving forward anyway, no matter what they’re going to find. ~John Hobbes - "Fallen"
To your health and wellness,
Mary
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