1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: Cast Playground on this episode of Taking a Walk. This 2 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: is a story of someone who has endured personal challenges 3 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 1: and has prevailed in triumph. Mary McManus was diagnosed at 4 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: age fifty three with post polio syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease, 5 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: and was told to be prepared to spend the rest 6 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: of her life in a wheelchair. She would not be 7 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:34,200 Speaker 1: brought down. Hear this story of triumph from an everyday 8 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: person as Mary McManus and I take a walk in 9 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: Brookline taking a walk. It was night. Well, hi, Mary, 10 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: it's so nice to be taking a walk with you 11 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:49,279 Speaker 1: here on a beautiful day in Brookline. Oh buzz, can 12 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: you believe this weather? I mean, we had what a 13 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: couple of days of rain and we said we're just 14 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: going to wait. We know the skies will clear as 15 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: they always do after a storm. And here we are. 16 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: It's so nice to meet you. This is a beautiful 17 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: place to take a walk. It's been a while since 18 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 1: I have Is this your regular spot? Yes, yes, this 19 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:13,199 Speaker 1: is actually where. Well these days I'm more power walking 20 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 1: than running, which is fine. It works really well for me. 21 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: But this is our usual spot. We live about a 22 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: fifteen minute walk from here and describe the scene so 23 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:30,400 Speaker 1: those that don't know where we are get a picture. Well, 24 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: we're right almost just outside the heart of Boston. You 25 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: can actually see the Prudential Center and the Hancock Building 26 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:42,320 Speaker 1: from the other end of the reservoir. It's a mile around. 27 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: It's a beautiful body of water. They're a geese. Sometimes 28 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: there are swans, which I always love because they are 29 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: such a symbol of serenity and peace. There's beautiful trees. 30 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: Interestingly enough, buzz, they just renovated this did Yeah. Yeah, 31 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: the walls were crumbling. The path over across the way 32 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 1: was very narrow, so only one person could go at 33 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: a time. Oh boy, and they widen that. And they've 34 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 1: also been very mindful of Yeah, watch out for the 35 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: geese's droppings. That's the only thing you have to be 36 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:29,799 Speaker 1: aware of here. Well, I don't want to get angry. 37 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: I like staying on the better side of the geese 38 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 1: and my wife. But yeah, this is the place where 39 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: I first learned how to run, and it's the place 40 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: we go to where just oh, we feel so incredibly 41 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: blessed that we live so close to such a magnificent 42 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:54,119 Speaker 1: place right here. Just outside of Boston, and how why 43 00:02:54,280 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: is walking or sauntering and taking in the surroundings. Why 44 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: is it important to you? Oh buzz I get a 45 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: little emotional. Every step is a gift. For me. I 46 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: contracted paralytic polio in one of the last polio epidemics, 47 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: and then fifteen years ago was told that I'd spend 48 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: the rest of my life in a wheelchair. And I 49 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 1: was able to heal my life. But every step is 50 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:26,839 Speaker 1: a gift, and I, you know, my way over here, 51 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 1: I was thinking, oh my goodness. So many people get 52 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 1: out of bed, they put their two feet on the floor, 53 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: they walk to the bathroom. They don't give it a 54 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: second thought. But for me, I put my feet on 55 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: the ground and I expressed my gratitude because I know 56 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: what a gift it is. That's beautiful put and that 57 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,119 Speaker 1: is at the essence of a lot of what certainly 58 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 1: instigated this taking a walk podcast. You know, the teachings 59 00:03:55,960 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 1: of Pique not Han, and you know the beauty of 60 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: just appreciating a moment certainly is what I think became 61 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: easier for people. Maybe around the pandemic. You didn't feel 62 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 1: that way, Oh, buzz I'll tell you it's interesting because 63 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 1: I used to go to the gym one day a 64 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: week as part of my workouts, but with the pandemic, 65 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: we could no longer do that, so it enabled us. 66 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: Actually it was a gift that we had to get 67 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: out and so rather than go to the gym for 68 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: a swim or oh it's a little cold out today, 69 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: that was taken off the table. And so the pandemic 70 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: I think, really was a gift in that regard that 71 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: we had to get outside. What are the places do 72 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: you like to go? Well, there's another reservoir at the 73 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 1: Where is it. It's at the end of Beacon Street. 74 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: It's the Cleveland Circle Reservoir. Another favorite place is to 75 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: make upon and are they they all have different vibes. 76 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: I'm thinking, yes, yeah, this one. This one has a 77 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: little more serenity. It's as you can tell, it's very peaceful. 78 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:21,360 Speaker 1: There typically aren't a lot of people at the Cleveland 79 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:25,839 Speaker 1: Circle Reservoir. It's usually more populated, and then ja make 80 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 1: a pond can get really crowded, so we have to 81 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: pick our times. But oh my goodness, it's it's such 82 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: a wonderful place. We trained there a lot during the 83 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 1: Boston Marathon. It's where Bill Rogers trained at at the 84 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 1: Cleveland Circle one. No Jamaica pond, Sorry, yeah, that was 85 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: his That was his go to place while training for Boston. 86 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: So we followed in his footsteps. Buzzed. I love that. 87 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: I love that. So you didn't grow up in this area. No. 88 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: I grew up in New York. Yeah, like outside of 89 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: New York, right, yeah, not far from Stanford. Yeah, where 90 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: I grew up. And you're you grew up in Rye? 91 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:09,799 Speaker 1: Is that right? Or no? Not far from Rye? Yeah? 92 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: Are you thinking of Rye because the train station. I'm 93 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 1: just thinking of that whole area as a big blur. 94 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: I remember the stops coming back from New York and 95 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: Rye was one of them, and certainly remember Rye for playground. Yeahs, yes, 96 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: what am I talking about? But New Rochelle, New Rochelle. Yeah, 97 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: it sounds like the I could hear the conductor right now. Yeah, 98 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:42,239 Speaker 1: but oh there you go. Yeah, and the last train 99 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: out of New York is one thirty train. They used 100 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: to call it one thirty in the morning. They called 101 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,599 Speaker 1: it the milk train because we stopped everywhere, right, every stop. 102 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: But so when did you leave that area? I left 103 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 1: in September of nineteen seventy one, and I came to 104 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 1: Boston University and I never left. And you came studies 105 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 1: to study what had be you you name it multifaceted, 106 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: multifaceted majors. But I landed in public relations okay, and 107 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: marketing yep. And but there were points in your life, sir, 108 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: that were very low points. They were low as a 109 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: result of your health situation. Yes, and that affected probably 110 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: your mind as well. Got chess. Yeah, it was all connected. 111 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: So what was the moment where it really all changed. 112 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: It was in February of two thousand and seven. I'd 113 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 1: been diagnosed with post polio syndrome and I was told 114 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: I should prepare to spend the rest of my life 115 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: in a wheelchair. And I got still, and I asked 116 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: for divine guidance, and I wrote a poem. It's funny 117 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: how God answers prayers sometimes, And I wrote the poem 118 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: called running the Race, and buzz, it's like something open 119 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: to my soul. And this long poem just flowed out 120 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:20,679 Speaker 1: of me, and I said, why am I writing about 121 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: running the race? I'm in a wheelchair at times, I'm 122 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: in a leg race. I couldn't figure it out, but 123 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: I knew that. I felt so good after I wrote 124 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: that bahoem, and I was told that I needed to 125 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,679 Speaker 1: quit my job. It was more than a job. It 126 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: was an award winning career at the VA as a 127 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 1: social worker. And I said, oh my gosh, what am 128 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 1: I going to do? Oh I've known for twenty five 129 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: years is working as a social worker in giving and 130 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:56,439 Speaker 1: taking care, which of course is how I got so sick, 131 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: because I didn't know how to take care of myself. 132 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: And suddenly I felt there was a world opening up 133 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: before me, but I didn't know what that world was. 134 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: So in the darkest moment of my life, where you know, 135 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 1: with the caterpillar, but just right when the caterpillar thinks 136 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: it's going to die, it transforms, and that's what happened 137 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: to me. So resilience, then, is something that you summoned 138 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: up from that process. Yes, definitely. I dug deep and 139 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 1: I said, Okay, I have to find the courage to 140 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: do what I need to do in order to heal 141 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 1: my life. And part of that was taking a leap 142 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: of faith and leaving my award winning career three years 143 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: before I was quote unquote eligible for retirement. So my 144 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: husband said, look, what good is it if you in 145 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: a wheelchair? What good is it if you don't feel well? 146 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: You know what difference does your salary make? So I 147 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 1: said all right, And I realized that I had a 148 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: gift of poetry, and so I was going to start 149 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 1: a business called New World Greeting Cards, original poetry for 150 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: every occasion. And i'd actually started it while I was 151 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 1: still at the VA, and I was, oh, my gosh, 152 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: poetry was just flowing out of me. And it was 153 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 1: all about imagining a different life from myself. I saw 154 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: myself splashing in puddles without my leg brace. I saw 155 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 1: myself dancing, I saw myself running. And so my husband said, okay, 156 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: well you know, let's get a plan. Well I started 157 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:03,679 Speaker 1: with a plan, and then I had an abnormal mammogram 158 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: bus and I said, whoa universe, You don't mess around. 159 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,839 Speaker 1: You really want me to leave. So I knew about 160 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 1: the power of meditation and visualization, and I focused healing 161 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 1: energy and I dissolved the breast tumor. And at that 162 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: point my daughter said, what are you waiting for? I said, 163 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: I don't know. So we gave six weeks notice and 164 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 1: I left on May twenty fifth of yeah, fifteen years, 165 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 1: two thousand and seven bus and you don't look back, 166 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: obviously at all, No, no other than to be grateful. 167 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: So as you study really these last few years, which 168 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: you've really pressed people and pushed them to the limits 169 00:11:56,080 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: and frankly still are, what advice would you give in 170 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 1: a simple fashion to people to summon up resilience. Well, 171 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 1: you got to have hope. I know it sounds like 172 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 1: a song, but it's true, Buzz, It's really true. Hope, gratitude, 173 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 1: knowing that things do get better, things do transform, and 174 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 1: there are things you can do to help that process. 175 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 1: Faith is very important. I'm not talking about our religion, 176 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 1: talking about feeling there's something greater. I mean, if we 177 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: stop and we just look at this, there's something that 178 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: created all of this, this beauty, this piece, this water. 179 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: So you know, just feeling there's something greater at work. 180 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 1: And I know it's hard. I know when things are 181 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: bearing down, I know when things look awful. I mean 182 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 1: things gosh. For me, when I was a senior in 183 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:07,719 Speaker 1: high school, I thought my life was going to end. 184 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: My father was alcoholic and he ended up taking his 185 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:16,719 Speaker 1: own life, and I held on to hope. I knew 186 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:21,959 Speaker 1: there were better days ahead, and I was blessed, truly blessed. 187 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 1: I had people come into my life. Sometimes the divine 188 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 1: comes in your life in the form of another person, 189 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: and look for that and keep your eyes in heart 190 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:40,320 Speaker 1: open and really trust, really trust that things will get better. 191 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: But also you can make a difference by giving, by 192 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:55,199 Speaker 1: serving others through kindness, generosity, and that's how we made 193 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: it through. Also, as I said, getting outdoors, staying connected, 194 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: having conversations, putting down the phone, which it was something 195 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: that I think we really value during the pandemic and 196 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: post pandemic. Find your passion, be creative. So those are 197 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: some ways and move even if it's just taken a walk. 198 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: So who inspires you these days? There are many people 199 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: who do. People, to be honest, President Biden inspires me, 200 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: Kamala Harris, people who are willing to take a path 201 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 1: that they maybe didn't have to take, regardless of political 202 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: affiliations or whatever. It's just the fact that it was 203 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: how many years old as President Biden, I mean, he 204 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: could have stayed home with his grandchildren and instead he said, no, 205 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: the world needs me. So they definitely inspire me. As 206 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: far as running, My shiro was Wilma Rudolph. Haven't you 207 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: known her? Sure? Yeah, so I tell the audience about her. 208 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness. So when I was training for the 209 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: Boston Marathon with my personal trainer, she asked me if 210 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: I heard of Wilma Rudolph and I said no. She said, 211 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: go home and google her. And I was having a 212 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 1: bad run that day and I said, I don't know 213 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: if I can really do this, and so she said, well, 214 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,600 Speaker 1: just go home and google Wilma. And she was a 215 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: polio survivor and she was told she was very ill 216 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: as a child, and her mom was told she'd never 217 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: walk again, and her mom and her brothers and sisters 218 00:15:55,240 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: would massage her legs and tell her you will walk. 219 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: I don't care what the doctors say. And not only 220 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: did she walk, she went on to become an Olympic 221 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: gold medalist. That's awesome. I love it. Yeah, yeah, that's fantastic. 222 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 1: So last question for you, Mary, what would you tell 223 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:28,239 Speaker 1: a doctor who was adverse from applying elements of western 224 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: medicine and mixing up versions of traditional medicine with some 225 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: new thinking. What would you tell that doctor who's holding 226 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 1: out and closed minded, look at me, look at others 227 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: as well. There are so many people who have overcome, 228 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: who have transformed, who have gone beyond their diagnosis. There 229 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 1: is and I would say, look, well, I know they 230 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: talk about they don't want to give false hope, but 231 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 1: is there anything as false hope? There's only hope, And 232 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:10,640 Speaker 1: oftentimes the power of hope can be far greater than 233 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: being told, you know, you're going to end up in 234 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,679 Speaker 1: a wheelchair, you're going to die in six months. What 235 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 1: if you keep that open, what if you just think 236 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: about how people's lives might change. And the other thing 237 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: I would say is look at the science, because there 238 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:31,920 Speaker 1: is a whole wealth of science now bus talking about 239 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 1: the mind body connection. The studies are showing. There was 240 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 1: a study at Harvard that's really fascinating where they had 241 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: one group practice scales with a piano, and they actually 242 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:48,400 Speaker 1: did it on the scales on the piano, and then 243 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 1: they had a group that imagined that they were going 244 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 1: to be playing the scales. Do you know that the finger, 245 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 1: the muscle, finger, the muscles and the fingers actually grew 246 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: almost as much in the people who imagined it from 247 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 1: the people who actually played. And so I'd say look 248 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 1: at the science. You're a doctor, you believe in science. 249 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 1: You're basing your decision on scientific fact. So what about 250 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:22,159 Speaker 1: if you look at science and there are more and 251 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 1: more studies coming out to show the power of the 252 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,119 Speaker 1: mind body connection. I know when I dissolve my breast tumor, 253 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 1: they said, oh, it was an artifact. Well it wasn't. 254 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: But that's okay. You need to believe what you need 255 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: to believe. So I would absolutely tell them, first of all, 256 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: look at me, look at what's possible. If it's possible 257 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:45,240 Speaker 1: for me, if it's possible for this woman who is amazing, 258 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 1: Ebie MacDonald, who healed her life from als, she was 259 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: also a polio survivor, And look at so many examples 260 00:18:55,119 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: of people who talk about how they've transformed their lives 261 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 1: and the power of the mind body connection. And Bernie 262 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: Siegel talk about who inspires me? He totally inspires me. 263 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 1: And he talks about you can love yourself. Well, there's 264 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:14,719 Speaker 1: power and unconditional love. And I would say, and Bernie 265 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 1: is a doctor, I'd go talk to Bernie Siegel, Well, 266 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:23,919 Speaker 1: we know about the power of gratitude as well, and 267 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 1: there's science to back that up. Terrific course I took 268 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 1: online The Science of Happiness and well Being out of 269 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:37,200 Speaker 1: Yale doctor Lori Santos, So we know there's science as 270 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:41,360 Speaker 1: well with gratitude and other elements. And I think that's 271 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 1: an excellent advice, you know, go to the science, treat 272 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:49,360 Speaker 1: it with there is data, because I hear the story 273 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: of those that are looking for a solution to something 274 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: and their doctor is only applying traditional means and not 275 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:03,120 Speaker 1: open to other means, whether it homeopathic or mind body. 276 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: So I think you've distilled it and made it, you 277 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 1: made it simple to digest. So speaking of gratitude, I'm 278 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: grateful for you taking a walk, and I appreciate you 279 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 1: being here and everything you're doing, and I wish you 280 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 1: well and thanks for spreading your word. Oh, thank you 281 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:28,879 Speaker 1: so much, Buzz. And I'm so grateful to you, and 282 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 1: I'm so happy that we found each other and that 283 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:37,400 Speaker 1: I have this opportunity to let people know what's possible 284 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: and that you're not your diagnosis, and that when things 285 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:45,200 Speaker 1: are the darkest, there's always always a ray of light 286 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: of hope. We'll taking a walk because about life stories 287 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 1: and lessons it's from ranging from all different types of people, 288 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: whether they be actors or musicians, but it's when we 289 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 1: first spoke. It's also about everyday people as well and 290 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: the stories they have to tell. So I appreciate Mary 291 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: You're taking a walk. Thank you so much. Buzzin you 292 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:11,479 Speaker 1: were so blessed with this weather. Huh. I think we 293 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: did about Let me see if I can. Oh, you 294 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 1: have the steps, Yeah, I'm going to start. Well, listen, 295 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:24,640 Speaker 1: we did about thirty two hundred steps on that walk. Excellent. 296 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,720 Speaker 1: That's a little lower for me at times, but I 297 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 1: think we got cordoned off in the wind area of 298 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 1: the reservoirs, so I became a little sound neurotic, but 299 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 1: I know we'll figure it out. Thanks Bary, Oh, thank 300 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 1: you so much. Thank you. Taking a Walk with Buzznight 301 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 1: is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 302 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:49,919 Speaker 1: your podcasts.