Purpose

I love how the Divine sends me messages. My Facebook stream and a newsletter from Dr. Joe Dispenza contained a link to this article about What is the Purpose of Life?

I remember asking my father in one of his rare lucid and sober moments, "What is the purpose of life? Why are we here?" And he said that if you touch the life of at least one other person then you can feel that your life is a success.

I was so blessed during my tenure as a social worker at the VA to touch and help to transform many lives.

When I left the VA with a heavy heart I felt adrift of purpose in my life. I had grandiose ideas of being on Oprah for having had the courage to take a leap of faith and heal my life from the effects of paralytic polio and trauma and becoming a NY Times Bestselling author.

I know that my purpose was and has been to let others know what healing is possible when we love ourselves and our lives and be grateful for the blessings and the lessons that can come out of challenges. I know how many lives I have inspired and continue to inspire with my 2009 Boston Marathon run:


And going the distance for 3 Bermuda Half Marathons in as many years after being told I'd need a total knee replacement was a miracle for many to see and share.

During these past 11 years I was somewhat driven by trying to find my purpose. I must bring a lot of compassion to the choices I made that often times led me to connections with people that were not for my highest good in trying to find my passion and my purpose. I made choices blinded by feeling lost after leaving my career at the VA. I learned wonderful soul lessons and now realize that greatness often lies not in the roar of the lion but in quiet moments of love, kindness, compassion and care often hidden from the public eye.

I love meditating with Bernie Siegel's guided meditations. In one of the scenes he comments that "You realize you don't need applause."

Isn't that the Truth?

As I move forward in my journey, I realize that my Being here, with an emphasis on Being is my purpose. My purpose is to bring love, light, inspiration, beauty, kindness, compassion and a message of healing, hope and possibility to those who might be in need. I have no epic plans in my running journey. I plan to train right now just for the health of it continuing to build strength and continue to heal from the effects of paralytic polio and trauma. Through my dedication to health and wellness at 64 years old, and given all the challenges I have overcome, perhaps someone else may be inspired to pursue their own health and wellness journey.

I've been given a gift of writing and so I will put together my next book, "The Adventures of Runnergirl1953" and co author it with the Divine listening to what words I need to write to bring joy and inspiration to the world through sharing my journey.

I'll continue to have moments of still to discern the voice of the Divine and see where I can best serve and rather than trying to find my purpose, I'll allow my purpose to find me.


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

Proud to be a part of Friends of Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc. Be sure to visit us at Booth 758 during Boston Marathon Weekend.

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:


And my latest and greatest book - Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance (With a Foreword by Jacqueline Hansen):

Going the Distance: Reclaiming My Retirement, My Passion, My Purpose and My Life

It was a gradual process of awareness that let me know it was time for me to return to my life as a retired VA social worker doing what I am most passionate about; writing, blogging, sharing my incredibly inspirational journey in healing the effects of paralytic polio and trauma. May 25 was the 10th anniversary of when I left the VA to heal my life after receiving the life giving diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease by Western Medicine Standards. Every finish line is a starting line.



I feel very blessed that my path crossed with Jeffrey Spratt,MT and will always value and cherish the work we did together as part of my journey healing the effects of paralytic polio and trauma. While there were times when I loved and embraced playing the role of his Executive Assistant and Communications and PR Director, there were times, as is true in helping out with any small business, where there was incredible stress and long hours for which Tom and I received no financial compensation. Of course, one cannot put a price tag on health and wellness and so, for awhile, we were trading our talents and treasures for Jeffrey's talent and treasure as a muscular therapist. Everything my husband and I did for him and for Spratt Muscular Therapies, we did because we believed in him and the work he did to help me in my recovery and healing journey.

Our daughter's recovery from severe depression and PTSD helped me to get clarity on what priorities I needed to set in my own life. She is and has been making a miraculous recovery. I'm sure everyone's prayers have helped plus her own fierce and tenacious, determined Spirit.

Since separating my story and journey from Jeffrey and Spratt Muscular Therapies, the door has opened wide to new connections who are helping me to fulfill my highest purpose and passion. My friends are embracing my blog and my writing and in social media, I have reclaimed my own identity and the work I have done these past ten years. Friends in social media and in real life are sharing in the excitement of Team McManus' journey on the road to Bermuda Marathon Weekend. There have been and are signs and affirmation from the Divine for my decision to move on from Jeffrey and his business.

My longtime friend in social media, Christa Rose, posted this on Facebook today:
“If it doesn’t open, it’s not your door.” ~Anonymous

Robert Spekman, my marketing professor at Darden, used to tell us that the only way you can feel better while beating your head against a wall is to stop. Yes, you should absolutely work hard for what you want but if the joy goes out of what you’re doing, if you feel like it’s the battle of your life instead of the path of your life, then stop. At least for a moment. Sit back, close your eyes, and breathe. Is it worth it to keep going? Are you doing this out of obligation and habit, or passion and purpose? Sometimes the only way to find our door is to walk away from the one in front of us. We only have so much time. Let’s make every day, every action, count.

To reclaiming my life and to making every day and every action count for our time here is indeed limited! To being an author, blogger, poet, motivational speaker and going the distance as an endurance runner on the roads and in my life and to letting my light shine!

Go the distance with strength and courage!
~Mary

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:


And my latest and greatest book - Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance (With a Foreword by Jacqueline Hansen):

"Magic is believing in yourself...

If you can do that, you make anything happen."



There are times when I get very nervous with putting myself out there. I've put it all out there in "Coming Home:A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility" and "Journey Well." In order to be vulnerable, honest and share Truth, I have to come from a place of believing in myself.



While writing my story has been healing for me, I am putting my story out there for a higher purpose.

An excerpt from "Journey Well" after a treatment at Sollievo Massage and Bodywork:

"Today I felt that the theme of the session was reclaiming this space as my own.”

“That is your birth right Mary. This is yours to claim.”

“I feel that I am pure love and light Joseph…”

“That is not a truth that is The Truth. And nothing can take that away. Your mission was not to serve these people or be the result of what happened to you. You have a much higher purpose.”

I have been humbled and amazed by people's response to my journey which in one way or another is the journey of everyone. We have all had a past. We have all had challenges. When we share our stories of how we are able to ultimately journey well, we all heal.

I created a page for "Journey Well" on Facebook. Its purpose is to bring awareness to "Journey Well" the book but it is also to create a community of people who want to journey well together. It's a page for posting quotes to help people begin and end their day and to have a pick me up of inspiration in the middle of the day.

I am blessed by the people I have met through my "Journey Well" page and the energy of love, kindness, hope and positivity that is being generated through the people in the community.

I could have retired from the VA after being diagnosed with post polio syndrome and retreated into the background of life. But my Spirit wouldn't let me dwell there. Ever since I wrote the poem "Running the Race," in February of 2008, I began believing in myself and my ability to have a full and vibrant life regardless of conditions. There has been so much magic and miracles and mysticism and so much to be grateful for. It all begins with believing in yourself!


I donate 50% of proceeds of Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility to The One Fund to help survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings.

I donate 50% of proceeds of "Journey Well" to AccesSportAmerica where their team helps people of all ages and abilities toward higher function and fitness through high impact sports and training.