The Art of Healing – Part 10 – Follow the Star

Star - a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
ace: someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

In just five days, I will be taking my place at the starting line of the 113th Boston Marathon. This is the last article in this series of the Art of Healing as you have joined me on the countdown to the Boston Marathon and poetic expressions of the journey.

Why have I chosen star as the theme for this article? In February of 2008, I wrote a poem dedicated to my personal trainer Janine Hightower called, “Follow the Star”. Before experiencing polio as a child, I loved ballet. I was a beautiful little ballerina – a vision in pink tutu, pink tights and those little black ballet shoes. I was flexible, graceful, and so light on my feet. I adored my ballet teacher MIss Patricia. Polio had taken my dream of being able to work up to being on point and being the star of a ballet, but it did not take my dream of emerging as a beautiful, whole, graceful, shining star on the stage of life. When I wrote this poem, I had no idea that I would be taking center stage at the 113th Boston Marathon to be a shining star of hope for those who are facing incredible challenges, and to be so blessed to raise money for Spaulding Rehab Hospital.

Follow the Star
Dedicated to my personal trainer Janine Hightower

Stairs looming my Mt. Everest I faced them with such dread