Celebrating Healing: On Courage and Synchronicity

After recovering from the shock and fear of the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, and as a whole new world unfolded before me, I knew that I was going to inspire others with a message of healing, hope and possibility.

I've been on many radio talk shows, done YouTube videos, been interviewed on Channel 7 News and by Phil Lipof, Boston News Anchor after the Bill Rodgers 5K to benefit Prostate Cancer.

I was blessed to have my story accepted for David Hamilton, Ph.D.'s Tenth Anniversary Edition of "How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body."



I listened to David's companion radio show on Hay House Radio UK.

I felt a stirring in my soul to ask him to be a guest on his show. He had read a story from the book on air and I thought wouldn't it be awesome to chat with one of the people whose story he shared in the book?

And then a most unusual thing happened ... I got cold feet.

Old feelings of unworthiness crept in...I mean after all this is Hay House Radio we are talking about and well yes my story was in the book but this would be a really big deal for me. Not me as in me personally but a wonderful venue to touch the lives of others with my story hearing it in my own voice.

I let it go...

David did a Facebook Live on feelings and vulnerability. He shared a story from his book, I <3 Me: The Science of Self-Love about his own journey to self love and feeling empowered and worthy to be his authentic self sharing his wisdom. He was waiting to go on stage at a Hay House Event and experienced a panic attack. He had this overwhelming sense of unworthiness to be among the Hay House thought leaders such as Wayne Dyer. It led him to an exploration of why he felt that way and most important, how to heal those feelings and shift into a state of self-love and compassion.

Right after I heard the Facebook Live talk, I emailed David.

He was delighted to have me be a guest on his show.

We had a wonderful conversation although I must confess I had to push through my nerves. I was star struck talking with David although deep down inside I know that I too am a star for all I have overcome in my life. He was gracious, kind and his passion about my journey healing the effects of paralytic polio and childhood trauma was infectious.

I had a notification on my Author Page on Facebook for both a post on my page and a message.

It was from a woman in London who is struggling with symptoms of Post Polio Syndrome. She heard me on David's show and wanted to learn more about my journey. We became fast friends across the Pond. She is taking the first steps on her healing journey and "just happened" to find David's work. What were the chances?

We've been messaging back and forth and she is going to see David at one of his talks in London. She connected with David on Facebook. She called me her earth angel delivering a message of hope!

If I would not have mustered the courage to reach out to David after receiving the nudge from the Universe via Facebook Live, this woman (and who knows who else) would not have had the opportunity to receive my message of healing, hope and possibility.

It's vital to be able to get over ourselves and live our highest purpose! The Universe will orchestrate the rest of the symphony.

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
Mary

My healing journey using the power of visualization is featured in David R. Hamilton's book, "How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body-Anniversary Edition." It's available on Amazon.


Be sure to visit my website by following this link.

My books are available on Amazon.

Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems to Heal Your Life


Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing Hope and Possibility that chronicles the first 7 years of my healing journey:


Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance (With a Foreword by Jacqueline Hansen):


***Coming Soon - The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953***
The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953 takes you on Mary McManus’ healing odyssey from a wheelchair to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond. After the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December 2006, Mary got still and asked for Divine Guidance. She harnessed the power of her mind to heal her body, feverishly writing poetry in which she imagined herself healthy, whole and free from the shackles of her youth. Mary’s quest to heal her life led her to the sport of running that tested her mettle while fueling her journey of transformation from a survivor of childhood paralytic polio and severe trauma at the hands of family members to a woman who embodies faith, grace under fire, courage, determination, endurance and resilience. Running became a way of life for Mary. As you’ll discover in “The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953” nothing, not even a serious knee injury in December of 2014 could stop her on the roads or in her life. Mary’s story is one that will leave you cheering for the underdog and discovering the meaning of different ability as Mary overcame every challenge that life presented to her.

Going the Distance: Just Imagine!!!

In editing my next book, "Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance," I'm realizing how I harnessed the power of my imagination to create my life today. After receiving the diagnosis of post polio syndrome in December 2006, I harnessed the power of my imagination through my pen, my divining rod for healing and imagined myself winning a 10K race.

I imagined myself running and running free, dancing in the rain without a leg brace, celebrating my life, expressing gratitude in spite of all the pain and suffering I lived through seeing my life as a gift rather than a burden. When I suffered a serious knee injury in December of 2014, I once again took to my imagination to help my body heal and affirmed the type of healer that I was worthy to have partner with me. I asked the question how would I ever reclaim my life and affirmed running free and unencumbered.

I imagined healing hands and healing hearts and was so blessed to meet Dr. Ryan Means. As I edit sharing the work I did with Dr. Ryan, I can feel the heal in my body once more. After a fall a few weeks ago, my left knee was swollen and I had pain. I would imagine Dr. Ryan taping me and using his hands and heart to support my body's natural ability to heal.

After a wasp sting, I imagined my thumb factory new as though the sting never happened.

Now here's the thing. Many people have said to me that they don't have that kind of imagination or that I must have some special powers that they don't have. That's just not true. Have you ever seen a commercial on TV for a juicy steak or a delicious dessert or a food you absolutely love? What happens? You can feel the desire to have that food and you might even start salivating AT THE THOUGHT OF HAVING IT!

Research is now documenting the power of the mind in affecting the body. Dr. Joe Dispenza's book, 'You Are the Placebo' is filled with anecdotes about his own healing and the healing of others; and changing the body by thought alone. There have also been examples cited by Dr. Joe and Dr. Bernie Siegel where negative messages about a diagnosis and research on a drug led to the death of patients. It was Dr. Ryan who led me to Dr. Joe Dispenza's work that expounds on the work of Bernie who pioneered the power of the mind/body connection back in the 70's.

Recently Dr. Joe shared this article from Scientific American about the power of the mind to build muscle.

Athletes visualize their races. I love a story Meb shares is 'Run to Overcome.' He visualized his race before he went to sleep the night before the race. He woke up sweaty and exhausted. His body felt as though it had in fact already run the race and his performance was compromised that day.

What do you need to conjure up in your life? It takes intention, attention, focus and action to manifest a positive outcome in your life. I could have easily listened to the naysayers and the doomsdayers in my life beginning with the messages I received being traumatized as a child and then from Western Medicine and even the body workers I worked with. But rather than set limits I allowed my imagination to run wild and free. Just imagine that!

You'll be able to read all about it in 'Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance.'

To your health and wellness,
Mary