I'm Now Off the Sidelines - On Creativity, the Power of Imagination and Healing

As I sat in a leg brace, using a wheelchair at times for mobility and contemplated a rather grim and uncertain future after receiving the diagnosis of post polio syndrome, a "progressive neuromuscular disease" in December of 2006, I knew that I was at a crossroads in my life.

It was a cold, dark February day and I was in the dark night of my mind, body and soul. I got still. Surrounded by print outs from Bernie Siegel, Wayne Dyer, Tony Robbins and Lisa Nichols on my dining room table, the words from a Lisa Nichols newsletter jumped out at me, "I am so happy and grateful now that I can create...." I don't even remember the end of the sentence...create ... "create what?" I pondered. I'd been told my social work career must come to an end if I had any hope of stabilizing my functioning where it was. I was post menopausal so I wasn't going to create another baby.

And then seemingly out of nowhere I wrote 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.

It was in the cadence of Dr. Seuss. My physical therapist, Miss Holly, read Dr. Seuss to me before every excruciatingly painful physical therapy session after I contracted paralytic polio and then while she was coaxing my muscles and nerves back to health, would have me recite it in tandem with her. I foreshadowed my 2009 Boston Marathon run with that poem.

From Dr. Joe Dispenza:



Poetry began pouring out of me at warped speed. I imagined myself healthy, whole and free. I wrote and I wrote and I wrote fueling my journey on the road to the 2009 Boston Marathon and during these past several years conjuring up in my imagination reclaiming my life and running unencumbered and free. I wrote about reclaiming the land from the invaders, those who foisted sexual, mental and physical abuse on me. I would stop and start on my healing journey. I believed and then I struggled with my power of belief in my conscious mind but when I wrote poetry I tapped into that part of me that wanted healing more than anything I've ever wanted in my life.

You can experience the best of my poetry during these past 9 years in "Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems to Heal Your Life," available on Amazon.

I would meet Dr. Ryan, a chiropractor healer who reminded me that I can set goals not limits and turned me onto the work of Dr. Joe and all the teachers in What the bleep do we know? including the wonderful work of Dr. Candace Pert.

But it all began with me and feeling the creative urge within me to create a life different than the one doctors and therapists were predicting for me. I harnessed the power of my imagination and conjured up Dr. Ryan to partner with me to go the distance on my healing journey.

It is thrilling and a relief to now be able to have confidence in my body, to feel strength and to build strength; to have a training plan and enjoy the journey although as with any journey it is not always easy. It's a miracle that at last I am now off the sidelines celebrating my accomplishments with all the other runners after a race. While at times, the journey is not easy, the rewards are magnificent as I'll write more about in tomorrow's post, "Climb That Mountain."

To your health and wellness
Mary

Following Their Bliss: Metal And Hide Designs

Kyle DiMare and Courtney Klimowicz met casually at first at the Maine College of Art in Portland, Maine. Kyle studied Sculpture and Courtney studied Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design.

Kyle's mom, Karen is a friend of mine. We were having brunch together last Sunday and I admired her stunning earrings and necklace. She told me that they were made by her son and his girlfriend Courtney. I reached out to them wanting to feature them and their story on my blog. They embody the philosophy of journey well by following your bliss.

Kyle and Courtney both graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Kyle left school with the intention of getting a Master's degree and focusing his career on teaching art. Kyle discovered that teaching art was far afield from his goals and his true passion. He had to make many sacrifices to pursue a master's degree; the biggest sacrifice was that he no longer had the time or resources for what he terms "making." Working with his hands is his life's passion and he had to put it on hold in order to pursue something he didn't like.

After graduation Courtney was fortunate enough to get a job as a goldsmith's apprentice. She worked only a few hours a week but the experience the goldsmith afforded her was priceless. It completely informed the work she's making for Metal And Hide. Courtney needed to take odd jobs to make ends meet, and one of the most lucrative jobs turned out to be the worst for her heath. She worked as a server in an excellent restaurant, but the long hours, the lifting objects and the constant standing took a toll on her physical and spiritual well being. She couldn't find time to "make".

They left Portland, Maine to look for jobs that would allow them to make. As they got to know each other better, they realized that they had a shared vision and developed Metal And Hide, an art and design company where they design and construct handmade, wearable and functional craft objects.

Their mission is to bridge the gap between the often inaccessible, high-end goods and the trendy products everyone enjoys. They focus on providing exceptional craft in all of their products to showcase a lavish elegance without the luxury price tag. In searching for their ideal job, they realized that they didn't need to look any further than their own passions and vision. Their concept for Metal And Hide came together and they decided to launch in February. Metal And Hide uses timeless materials for timeless quality, crafting wearable art and artistic accessories. Kyle and Courtney's creations honor the duality of their experience in making art, their personalities and the materials they use. When their paths crossed at the Maine College of Art, they couldn't have possibly predicted that their relationship would lead to a successful business partnership. They focus on unique handmade craft objects where the process of making each unique piece is strongly reflected in their designs.

Here is a sample of their beautiful creations that are more magnificent when you experience them in person:





They name their one of a kind creations that are all hand made, and made right here in Massachusetts.

You can shop for their designs on Etsy

Be sure to love their Facebook page.

And follow Metal And Hide on Instagram and Twitter.

Journey well!

My latest book, "Journey Well" is now available on Amazon along with all of my inspirational books. 50% of book proceeds are donated to the Massachusetts Resiliency Center, a safe, welcoming space for survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing to heal and stay in touch with one another; a virtual hub for a widely dispersed community whose lives have been impacted by the tragic events of April 15th and the events that followed.

When terror struck the world's oldest and most beloved marathon on April 15, 2013, it was a defining moment in Mary McManus’ life and the lives of all those in Boston and around the world. It was her wake up call to return to the sport and community that have been medicine and a lifeline for her throughout her marathon of healing the late effects of paralytic polio and experiencing 9 years of domestic violence as a child and adolescent. Mary captures the essence of Boston Strong through her experience of the 2014 Boston Marathon and as she profiles the people who are Boston Stronger. Through her blog posts, poems and journal entries woven together with excerpts from her memoir, “Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility,” you will experience, through one woman’s journey of transformation and healing, that no matter what happens to us, we can all learn to journey well.