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):

My New Jobs

I used to drive my husband crazy when I wrote down that I was a retired social worker. He pointed out that I am more busy in retirement than I was when I worked as a social worker at the VA.

It took me awhile to transform and embrace this phase of my life moving from a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma who had to retire to a woman who is vibrant, whole, happy and healthy working as an author and training as an athlete.

Recently I updated my website and my profile on Google and Facebook to reflect these changes.

I updated my author page at Amazon Central and realized that yes I am an author and a writer.

I'm also a motivational speaker as Tom Grilk commented on Facebook after I wrote about Sunday's BAA 10K.

Pretty easy to see why Mary is a motivational speaker. Her words are humbling and gratifying.

I have new business cards on the way:


I receive emails and reviews about my books ...

After reading just 60 pages of her memoir, one reader sent this email to me:

"It was great seeing you again a few weeks ago. I was so happily surprised that you remembered me.

I wanted you to know that I just bought your memoir and read about 60 pages of it. I find it so incredibly inspiring. I have decided that I want to take on some big growth challenges in the next few months. Seeing how you handled the combination of post polio symptoms, PTSD, and caretaker burnout, helps me feel a bit more secure about successfully completing the challenges. Thank you so much for writing your memoir and selling it at Marathon Sports."

Alma MacDermott, aka Mrs. Mac had this to say about Coming Home: "Mary is a fellow member of my running club, the L Street Running Club in South Boston. After reading her self-published life story, I have to salute the courage and strength she displayed in working through extreme trials which a young girl should have never had to endure, and which led to the beautiful and generous person she has become today. Mary, you are a survivor and I salute you!" You can read the full review on her blog.

Another reader told me how he was healing his childhood trauma reading my memoir and Journey Well and feeling inspired that he too could create a life after the VA. He had just retired and reached out to me letting me know he had been struggling with retirement. He bought my books and felt a boost of energy and hope.

Lee Woodruff - yes that Lee Woodruff had this to say about "Journey Well":

"A book that will undoubtedly make an impact...Journey Well by Mary McManus. It will inspire you to live each day in a stronger way..."

and gave "Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility" 5 stars on Goodreads.

I'm no longer running as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma; I am running and I am an athlete. My job is to train for races and for next year's Newport Marathon. I run for my own health and well being but I also run because I was told I shouldn't run any more. I run for the joy of it all, to share running with Tom and my running family and to create ripples out into the Universe of what is possible when we harness the power of our thoughts, fire up our will and determination.

So there you have it!

I am not retired at all but claim my two new jobs --

As an author:


I'm working on "Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems" and "Going the Distance" which will chronicle my road to the Newport Marathon 2016 following a knee injury last December.

And an athlete in training enjoying every mile of this delicious journey!



They told me I was crazy when I left the VA 8 1/2 years ago to heal my life and follow my passion as a writer and they told me I was crazy to run another marathon. Call me crazy - and I'll see you at the finish line!

Cheers! To life! Love yourself well!